2025

Falling birth rates in the U.S. have raised concerns that the current total fertility rate (TFR) has fallen "below replacement" level. In reality, the relationship between current fertility rates and population decline is not straightforward.

Immigration. Abortion. Anti-Trans laws. Student debt. Reversing the falling fertility rate. All these topics have been the subject of intense debates in the past several years, and some have been the subject of executive orders and new actions by the Trump administration in his first 50 days in office. In this symposium, the Council on Contemporary Families brings together leading experts on these topics to discuss how these policies affect families, and what to expect in the second Trump administration.

Examination of the Family First Act (FFA) to increase the CTC to as much as $4200, while also extending benefits to pregnant mothers. In this brief, we assess who will benefit most from changes to the CTC and whether it can effectively support families and halt falling fertility.

Many Americans are divided politically, but they strongly agree on the value of family time and the need for paid parental leave. Support for these policies is widespread across parties and states, with more states adopting family leave in recent years. Research shows that paternity leave in particular strengthens father-child bonds, supports healthier relationships between parents, and benefits families long term. However, access in the U.S. remains limited, and cultural stigma still discourages many fathers from taking leave. With growing public support, now is the time to expand access and create workplace cultures that normalize and encourage paid parental leave.