A radical policy blueprint from the influential right-wing think tank behind Project 2025 proposes using the full force of the US government to promote heterosexual marriage and childbearing, including the creation of compulsory 'marriage boot camps' for couples.
Core Proposals of the 'Saving the Family' Draft
The draft paper, titled 'Saving America by Saving the Family' and obtained by the Washington Post, was authored by the Heritage Foundation. It warns that declining marriage and birth rates threaten the nation's economic and moral fabric, blaming left-wing policies like assistance for single parents.
It calls for a 'whole of government' approach. Key recommendations include the Department of Transportation prioritising grants for towns with higher marriage rates, and Congress offering generous tax credits for families with three or more children.
One of the most striking suggestions is for the Department of Health and Human Services to collaborate with churches and non-profits to run marriage 'boot camp' programmes. These would cover communication and finance, culminating in a 'communal wedding' for participating couples.
Financial Incentives and Penalties
The paper heavily focuses on using the tax system and benefits to shape behaviour. It proposes:
- Expanding tax credits significantly for larger families.
- Allowing married couples to invest more in retirement accounts.
- Creating a $2,500 'seed money' investment account for newlyweds under 30.
- Simultaneously, it seeks to reduce state support for single parents by adding work requirements and capping benefits.
To promote home ownership—seen as family-friendly—it suggests the Federal Reserve stop buying mortgage-backed securities and that local governments eliminate rent-controlled housing.
Contradictions and Cultural Stances
The proposals mark a stark departure from traditional Republican small-government values, advocating for intense state oversight of family life. The paper also encourages the government to:
- Promote a universal 'day of rest' linked to religious freedom.
- Caution against online dating and pornography.
- Challenge no-fault divorce laws and make 50-50 child custody the default.
Notably, it argues against IVF subsidies, contradicting Donald Trump's stated support for the treatment, claiming it does not boost birth rates and devalues embryonic life.
The document, dated Thursday 8 January 2026, includes an appendix of more extreme ideas, such as granting parents an extra half-vote per child and banning pornography. The Heritage Foundation has been asked to confirm the paper's validity.
