Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election, securing 277 electoral college votes, returning to the White House as the 47th president of the United States. His second term will shape a new chapter for American family life, with policies and priorities impacting healthcare, education, and the economy.
For many mothers and families, this election outcome raises questions about what lies ahead. Here’s a closer look at what his administration’s policies might mean for families and parents.
Key policies and their potential impact on families
Child tax credit
This election has seen unprecedented discussion around the child tax credit, widely supported across party lines to help lift families out of poverty. Currently, the credit provides $2,000 per child under 17, but it’s reduced for families with lower tax bills and excludes parents who aren’t in the workforce.
Trump’s Agenda47 outlines plans for economic growth, and part of this includes tax policies that could benefit working parents. In his previous term, Trump doubled the child tax credit, and his 2024 campaign has hinted at a potential increase. Vice President JD Vance, suggested on Face the Nation that raising the credit to $5,000 could allow more parents to stay home with their children, though some Republicans are cautious about extending the benefit to non-working parents.
Access to affordable childcare
Women bear the majority of unpaid caregiving responsibilities in the U.S., handling two-thirds of this labor—work valued at $1 trillion annually. This caregiving burden intensifies when families struggle to find affordable care for children or aging parents, and with child care costs rising faster than inflation, the issue is more urgent than ever.
Despite this, Trump’s current platform offers limited solutions to the child care crisis. In the June presidential debate, when CNN moderator Jake Tapper asked him twice about plans to lower child care costs, Trump sidestepped the question each time, focusing on other topics instead. His campaign platform is similarly quiet on the issue.
This lack of focus marks a shift from his first campaign, when he proposed paid parental leave (though the proposal excluded fathers, which critics noted). In office, Trump sought $1 billion for child care programs and a national parental leave policy, influenced by his daughter and policy adviser, Ivanka Trump. While Congress rejected these proposals, Trump did succeed in doubling the child tax credit and establishing paid leave for federal employees.
In his 2019 State of the Union address, Trump expressed pride in being “the first president to include in my budget a plan for nationwide paid family leave, so that every new parent has the chance to bond with their newborn child.”
However, signals from his current administration suggest that family-focused policies may not be as prominent this time around. His vice presidential running mate, Senator JD Vance, has a record of opposing expanded child care support. In a 2021 op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, Vance argued against investing in child care subsidies, suggesting that supporting more stay-at-home mothers might be beneficial for families—even if it results in fewer women participating in the workforce.
Instead, Vance has hinted at policies that could support single-income families, potentially making it easier for one parent to stay home while the other works.
Healthcare access
Prescription drugs
Trump’s commitment to reducing prescription drug prices could benefit families with young children who require medication for chronic or acute conditions. His Agenda47 plan emphasizes competition and regulatory reform to keep these costs low. Additionally, Trump’s pledge to protect Medicare and Social Security benefits may offer stability for multigenerational households managing care for aging relatives alongside young children.
Medicare and Social Security benefits
Moreover, his pledge to protect Medicare and Social Security benefits might offer some security for families with multigenerational caregiving responsibilities, including those looking after aging parents or grandparents alongside their young children.
In-vitro fertilization (IVF)
Trump has also proposed covering in vitro fertilization (IVF) costs, either through government funds or required insurer coverage. This policy could provide relief for families facing high fertility treatment costs, which can average $15,000 to $30,000 per cycle, though some within his party question the financial feasibility.
Abortion
While Trump has not taken a firm stance on vetoing or supporting a national abortion ban, there is growing concern among advocates that conservatives may push for such a measure. In states with strict abortion restrictions, doctors face uncertainty about how to define a “medical emergency,” leaving them hesitant to provide timely care. This ambiguity has led to delays in treatment for women experiencing early miscarriage symptoms, as physicians fear potential prosecution if their actions are interpreted as performing an abortion.
Abortion rights measures won in seven states, with Montana being the latest to pass a protective measure by early Wednesday. Meanwhile, voters in three states—Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota—rejected measures that would have created a constitutional right to abortion.
Maternal health
During his previous term, President Trump signed legislation granting up to 12 weeks of paid maternity and paternity leave to federal employees for birth, adoption, or fostering, though it excluded caregiving leave for sick relatives and did not extend to private-sector workers. Additionally, he enacted a 2018 law providing $50 million in grants to states to establish maternal mortality review committees, aiming to improve understanding of maternal health complications and prevent maternal health issues.
However, as of now, his current campaign platform and Agenda47 do not explicitly address maternal health issues.
Support for family caregivers
In his second term, President Donald Trump is introducing a tax credit aimed at supporting family caregivers. Announced during his October 27 rally, the proposal would reduce tax burdens for those providing in-home care to aging relatives or loved ones with health needs.
Unlike more expansive approaches like Harris’s proposed Medicare coverage for in-home care, Trump’s tax credit provides targeted financial relief without expanding federal healthcare programs. While details are still forthcoming, this tax credit reflects Trump’s recognition of the essential role family caregivers play, offering some financial support for those balancing the demands of home-based care.
Economic policies
Tax cuts and inflation control
Trump’s economic plan emphasizes job creation, inflation control, and tax cuts aimed at middle- and working-class families. Provide a “middle class, upper class, lower class, business class, big tax cut.” Trump has not detailed how his new tax cut would work.
The platform proposes “no tax on tips,” which could increase take-home pay for many families. (An analysis by Ernie Tedeschi at the Yale Budget Lab found that 2.5% of workers are in tipped jobs, including 5% of workers in the bottom quarter of earners.) Additionally, Trump plans to “end inflation, and make America affordable again,” focusing on economic stability to ease financial pressures on households.
Baby bonuses
President Trump will ask Congress to provide young parents with “baby bonuses” to help launch a new baby boom. Trump didn’t specify how this would work.
Housing affordability
Trump has pledged to remove certain regulations on new home construction to reduce costs, though he has not specified which regulations he aims to eliminate. During his previous term, he signed the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered the corporate tax rate and introduced Opportunity Zones to encourage investment in low-income areas with tax deferrals on eligible gains. His Agenda47 platform also highlights plans to “promote homeownership through tax incentives and support for first-time buyers,” signaling a continued focus on making homeownership more accessible.
Education and school choice
One of Trump’s central goals is to expand school choice, which would allow families to use public funds to enroll their children in private or charter schools if they feel these schools better meet their needs. This could offer more options for parents looking for early learning programs that align with their values and expectations.
Additionally, Trump’s administration has voiced opposition to incorporating what he describes as “radical gender ideology” or “critical race theory” in classrooms, vowing to restrict federal funding for schools that teach these topics. While this primarily impacts K-12 education, it could set a precedent for curriculum standards that may influence early childhood education as well.
President Trump pledged to allow homeschool parents to use 529 education savings accounts to spend up to $10,000 a year per child, completely tax-free to spend on costs associated with homeschool education. President Trump will also work to ensure that every homeschool family is entitled to full access to the benefits available to non-homeschooled students—including participating in athletic programs, clubs, after school activities, educational trips, and more.
The bottom line
As Trump begins his second term, families across the country will be watching closely to see how his policies unfold. With a focus on economic stability, educational choice, and targeted healthcare initiatives, his platform presents both opportunities and potential concerns for American families. Staying informed and engaged will be crucial as these policies take shape, shaping the future for mothers, fathers, and caregivers navigating this new chapter.
