Photo: DOMINIC GWINN / AFP / Getty Images
A new proposal from the Heritage Foundation — the conservative think tank behind Project 2025 — is drawing attention for how it lays out a vision for marriage, family life, and gender roles in America.
According to a recent Heritage Foundation report, per The Hill, the group is calling for policies it says would “strengthen the American family,” including marriage preparation camps, financial incentives for people who marry young, and benefits aimed specifically at traditional, two-parent households.
One of the most striking ideas is what the report describes as marriage “boot camps.” These programs would prepare unmarried couples for marriage through structured training, pair them with long-term mentors, and end with a group wedding ceremony. Couples who complete the program could also receive a financial reward, according to the proposal.
The report makes clear that its focus is on heterosexual, two-parent families. It discourages online dating, supports ending so-called “marriage penalties” in federal policy, and backs stricter work requirements for people receiving government assistance.
The Heritage Foundation also proposes creating marriage-based savings accounts modeled after the administration’s “Trump Accounts.” Under the plan, couples who marry before age 30 would receive a government-backed account funded with $2,500 over three years, along with extra tax credits for families where one spouse stays home to care for children.
On parenting, the report rejects the idea that having fewer children allows families to provide better care or stability. Instead, it encourages Americans to have larger families, framing declining birth rates as a cultural problem rather than a personal or economic choice.
The document also reportedly addresses reproductive technology, saying in vitro fertilization should be limited and warning against its use by unmarried people or non-traditional families — reinforcing the report’s stance that marriage should be the gateway to parenthood.
Religion plays a major role in the proposal. The Heritage Foundation argues that religious communities tend to have more children and calls for policies that would encourage religious participation, including a proposed national day of rest that would limit commercial activity one day a week.
Career ambition and higher education are viewed skeptically in the report. It criticizes the idea that people should wait until they feel financially secure or established in their careers before having children, instead urging Americans to prioritize marriage and family earlier in life.
Finally, the report calls for rolling back regulations in areas like housing and child care, arguing that fewer rules would make it easier for families to afford raising children — a long-standing position of the Heritage Foundation.
The proposals are already fueling concern among critics who say the agenda would push government policy toward a narrow definition of family, while reshaping personal life choices around ideology rather than individual freedom.
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.