The Treasury Department announced it will automatically enroll 60 million children in the newly created Trump Accounts, replacing the previous opt-in structure. This shift ensures broader access to the child investment program, originally launched in early July. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed seven million children are currently signed up, though 73 million children are eligible for the program. The accounts come with a $1,000 government contribution for children born from 2025 through 2028, though auto-enrollment does not automatically trigger this specific benefit.

Under last year's tax law, taxpayers must specifically elect to receive the $1,000 contribution. The accounts are being managed through Robinhood and the Bank of New York Mellon, featuring a dedicated phone app and website. Tuesday's rules detail a master group trust designed to handle transactions without specific individual information, enabling the government to add approximately two million additional newborns annually without parental sign-up.

The regulations also create a framework allowing private donors to contribute appreciated stock directly into the accounts. While the law requires accounts to be invested in diversified, low-cost indexes, the Treasury Department argues direct stock donations do not violate this prohibition. This move could spur more donations from wealthy Americans, though critics warn it introduces risk. Nina Olson of the Center for Taxpayer Rights argued the change "undermines the entire purpose of the regulated index fund requirement," citing concerns over holding individual securities like tech stocks.