The Heritage Foundation has released a report advocating for the federal government to prioritize and support the "American family." This initiative coincides with the start of the midterm election year, urging conservatives to focus on domestic social issues.
Key Recommendations
The report includes several specific proposals:
- Marriage Bootcamp: A program designed to prepare cohabiting couples for marriage.
- Universal Day of Rest: A concept building on existing blue laws that restrict certain activities, such as alcohol sales, in some areas.
- Discouragement of Online Dating: Citing research that suggests couples who meet online may be less likely to marry.
Context and Evolution
The full plan, published recently and reported by The Washington Post, reflects the Heritage Foundation's shift from its traditional small-government stance towards a more populist conservative agenda. The foundation has previously demonstrated its influence through initiatives like Project 2025, which outlines policy changes for a potential future administration.
Roger Severino, Heritage's Vice President of Economic and Domestic Policy, stated that the government's role is to prevent policies from undermining the family institution, emphasizing that marriage is not currently a federal priority.
Policy Directives
The report's guidance suggests that U.S. policy should "encourage and protect the formation of families, not mere fertility." It recommends against policies that could undermine marriage, encourage delayed marriage, or support out-of-wedlock births.
Specific areas addressed include:
- Tax Codes: Should not penalize marriage or encourage single parenthood.
- Education Policy: Should avoid pressuring young Americans to delay marriage in pursuit of unnecessary credentials.
The report also calls for a series of executive orders from a future Trump administration. These orders would require federal grants, contracts, policies, and research to explicitly measure their impact on marriage and family, block actions that discriminate against family formation, and give preference to actions that support American families.
Diverse Perspectives
Eric Rosswood, author of "Journey to Parenthood: The Ultimate Guide for Same-Sex Couples," expressed agreement with some of Heritage's concerns, such as food insecurity and the lack of affordable childcare. However, he disagreed with recommendations for subsidies exclusively for married families or the assertion that children are best raised by biological parents. Rosswood stated that parental support, regardless of gender or biological relation, is what truly benefits children.
Stance on In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
While acknowledging the benefits of IVF for individuals facing infertility, the report argues against the practice outside of marriage. It suggests that a "babies-at-all-costs mentality" could incur moral and spiritual costs, potentially denying a child's "right" to be born and grow up with a mother and father bound in marriage.
Trump Administration's Actions on IVF
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at reducing IVF costs and requested policy recommendations for protecting IVF access. He also introduced federal guidance to allow companies to offer fertility benefits separate from major medical insurance and secured a deal to lower costs for a common fertility drug. These actions followed a period where IVF became a significant discussion point during the 2024 campaign, particularly after an Alabama Supreme Court ruling on frozen embryos. The Heritage Foundation commended Trump for efforts to address the "root causes" of infertility.