“The United States is one of only three countries on earth without mandated maternity leave, joining the ranks of Papua New Guinea and Lesotho.”
President Donald Trump’s 2018 budget proposal is slowly making its way into the light. When it comes to federal spending, there is no way to make everyone happy, of course. Give everyone every dollar they ask for, and deficit hawks will be up in arms. Cut vital programs, and politicians whose constituents will be hit by the cuts are likely to raise objections. So no matter the budget’s context, expect the Trump administration to come under fire from those groups who lose out.
One development that will hopefully be widely lauded, however, is the inclusion of six weeks paid time off for federal employees who give birth or adopt a child. The United States is one of only three countries on earth without mandated maternity leave, joining the ranks of Papua New Guinea and Lesotho. Mandating maternity leave for federal employees is a big step in the right direction.
Interestingly, the champion for maternity leave in Trump’s proposed budget appears to be Ivanka Trump. The so-called First Daughter and de facto First Lady has been quite active in crafting policies for the Trump administration. Ivanka is known for holding views that differ from her father, for example, arguing that climate change is a major threat. So far, however, her influence over policies appears to be somewhat limited, with her father frequently pushing his own views forward, rather than hers.
As far as maternity leave goes, it seems that Ivanka may have won the day. This should come as no surprise, as Ivanka is widely seen as a dedicated and caring mother. At the same time, she must balance her family life and professional life as a businesswoman.
Donald Trump’s support of paid family leave isn’t exactly new. During a September 2016 stop in Pennsylvania, Donald Trump rolled out a series of child care policies, including a plan for six weeks maternity leave. Trump even noted that, for many families, child care is now the most expensive single cost, sometimes costing more than housing.
Providing child care and encouraging maternity leave will make it easier for working and middle class Americans to raise families. With high living costs now all but requiring both parents to work, paid maternity leave will help alleviate one of the biggest burdens of starting a family. Beyond which, various studies have shown that it is immensely beneficial for newborns to spend large amounts of time with their parents.
Of course, President Trump supporting maternity leave does not mean that Congress will also. While Trump may strum up some tepid support from Democrats, at least when it comes to maternity leave, Republicans may oppose. Further, while supporting maternity leave is a boon for middle and working class Americans, cutting Medicaid and SNAP programs could leave many Americans high and dry. Meanwhile, even though maternity leave is a step in the right direction for working and middle class families, other areas of the budget are rumored to be far less kind.
