President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday aimed at expanding access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) by reducing costs and policy barriers, marking a significant step in his administration’s efforts to support family growth in the U.S.
The executive order calls for policy recommendations to ensure consistent access to IVF while addressing financial obstacles that prevent many aspiring parents from undergoing treatment. The initiative places emphasis on revising policies that contribute to high costs, some of which may require legislative action.
IVF treatments are often prohibitively expensive, ranging from $12,000 to $25,000 per cycle, with many patients requiring multiple cycles to conceive. Despite the growing demand, only a quarter of employers offer IVF coverage in their health insurance plans, and just a handful of states mandate some level of coverage for state-regulated insurance. Currently, federal support for IVF is limited to military personnel, veterans, and select government employees.
The need for affordable fertility treatments has intensified as birth rates in the U.S. continue to decline. The country’s fertility rate reached another historic low, dropping 3% in 2023 from the previous year. Between 2014 and 2020, the rate fell by an average of 2% annually. Meanwhile, data from the Department of Health and Human Services shows that IVF led to the birth of more than 85,000 infants in 2021.
Trump’s executive order aligns with his broader pro-family policies. During his first term, he doubled the child tax credit and expanded its eligibility. He also signed legislation allowing new parents to withdraw up to $5,000 from their retirement accounts without penalties after the birth or adoption of a child. In recent remarks, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to supporting IVF access, citing his long-standing advocacy for policies that enable more Americans to start families.
“We want more babies, to put it very nicely,” Trump said, emphasizing the financial burden of IVF treatments. “I’ve been in favor of IVF right from the beginning.”
The executive order’s recommendations will focus on making IVF treatments more financially accessible and streamlining policies that impact fertility care. However, the extent of its impact will depend on forthcoming legislative and regulatory actions.
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