Trump accounts for kids: Which American children are eligible for the investment program Michael Dell poured $6.25 billion into

Fortune

by Nick Lichtenberg

February 25, 2026

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President Donald Trump unveiled his "Trump Accounts" program during his State of the Union address, touting it as a groundbreaking initiative to provide American children with investment opportunities funded by both federal dollars and private donations from billionaires like Michael Dell, who contributed $6.25 billion. The program aims to give 25 million American kids a financial head start by investing in low-fee index funds tied to U.S. stocks. While Trump and his supporters, including venture capitalist Brad Gerstner, view the initiative as a symbol of capitalism's success and a way to expand stock market ownership nationwide, critics argue it falls short in addressing immediate child poverty and inequality. The program, passed as part of a multitrillion-dollar tax and spending package, allocates $1,000 from the federal government to accounts for babies born between 2025 and 2028. It officially launches on July 4, 2026, to coincide with the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The federal baseline applies only to newborns in that specific window, but private donors have expanded its reach. For instance, Michael Dell's $6.25 billion commitment provides $250 each for 25 million children aged 10 and under in low-income ZIP codes (median family income of $150,000 or less). Other financial titans like Ray Dalio and BlackRock have also contributed significantly, with Dalio pledging $75 million to fund accounts for 300,000 children in Connecticut and BlackRock matching the federal contribution for the children of its employees. Despite the enthusiastic backing from Trump and private donors, the "Trump Accounts" face skepticism from policy experts. Critics argue that while the long-term investment accounts may benefit young adults decades later, they do little to address immediate child poverty—a concern compounded by the fact that the same legislative package cut funding

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Originally published on Fortune on 2/25/2026