If the Trump administration and Congress were genuinely interested in making it easier for American families to grow and thrive, they’d be focusing on policies like national paid leave, affordable child care, maternal healthcare, and services for our aging and disabled loved ones. They’d be investing in early education and strengthening the caregiving workforce. They’d be advocating for common-sense measures like remote work options. They’d be expanding social safety nets.
But they’ve done none of that. Instead of addressing child care, their solution is to rely on grandmothers. There’s been silence on paid leave, and yet, what they’re offering is outright absurd. A medal for women with six or more children? Classes on menstrual cycles? Coupons for minivans?
Rather than building for the future, they’re cutting vital programs. From fertility and maternal health initiatives to food assistance, Medicaid, and Social Security, they are dismantling the very systems our country has developed to support and sustain life.
Elon Musk, JD Vance, and others are out of sync with the needs of Americans.
Musk claims the birth rate crisis is a sign of civilization’s collapse. If that’s the case, he’s already undermining its foundations.
The true crisis we face is one of care. As baby boomers age, many of us are simultaneously caring for both our children and our parents, with little support, causing emotional and financial strain. The absence of federal paid leave and child care services in many counties is adding fuel to this fire. The answer isn’t about slashing programs, but about creating a world where we invest in care and support.
My organization, Paid Leave for All, is urging people to imagine what life would be like if they had guaranteed paid family and medical leave — where no matter what life threw their way, they could maintain their livelihood and care for their loved ones. Think about the businesses and ventures that could flourish, the families that could stay afloat, and the priceless moments we wouldn’t have to miss. Picture the peace of mind that would come with knowing your paycheck is secure, your life stable, and your loved ones cared for.
What Musk, Trump, Vance, and others are proposing isn’t about giving families the security they need. It’s a thinly veiled attempt to preserve a demographic majority, not to build a stronger, more equitable society.
But here’s the good news: They’re still at odds with the overwhelming majority of Americans. They’re ignoring the urgent needs of working families and missing a major political opportunity.
Americans are asking for paid leave and child care. Will politicians listen?
In April, House Speaker Mike Johnson went to great lengths to block a bipartisan measure that would have allowed new parents in Congress to vote by proxy. This pro-family measure would have cost nothing, yet he opposed it. Once the public caught wind of this, support for the proposal surged by 23 points across every demographic. Even more telling was the overwhelming support for broader policies like paid family and medical leave, with 90% of independents, 96% of suburban women, and 97% of low-turnout Democrats backing it.
Polling conducted in battleground states before the 2024 election revealed record-high support for paid leave across party lines, proving that this issue is not just a political concern but a deeply felt need.
After the election, political commentators, including Ron Klain, former chief of staff for Joe Biden, noted that policies like paid leave and affordable child care could have improved people’s lives significantly, reducing stress and potentially changing the political landscape.
“We didn’t deliver what people wanted — help with child care, elder care, more security in their lives,” Klain admitted.
Now, the task ahead is clear: We must not only respond to the real threats facing our families, but also offer a vision of a better future. A future where families are supported and empowered. A future where working people are not left to drown in financial insecurity.
The desire to succeed in life, to be able to afford a decent standard of living, and to care for our loved ones is universal. This isn’t a liberal fantasy — it’s an idea rooted in strength, dignity, and a deep understanding of what it means to thrive.
Making more babies through coercion, fake incentives, or force is not the solution. The real goal is to support families, empower them to live healthier, richer lives, and create a society that cherishes and values every person. Let’s put that conversation front and center, where it belongs.