Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us for the first Financial Literacy and Education Commission public meeting of 2026. I appreciate your commitment to advancing financial literacy and education across America.
In my role as Treasury Secretary, I am proud to serve as chair of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission, which was created by Congress to improve financial literacy and education for all Americans in partnership with private and non-profit sector partners. I have long believed that financial education is most powerful when it is lived, not just taught. When young people begin saving and investing early, they develop habits, judgment, and confidence that shape a lifetime of financial decision-making.
Seeing assets grow over time instills patience, discipline, and a sense of ownership in one’s future in ways no classroom lesson alone can replicate. By giving children a foothold in the financial system, Trump Accounts will help the next generation envision and achieve new possibilities—like pursuing education, owning a home, or starting a business—while also reinforcing the behaviors required to plan for, manage, and ultimately achieve these life goals.
Trump Accounts are a generational downpayment on the American Dream. They will put Americans on an investing journey from the very start of life. Each eligible American child will receive a $1,000 federal seed contribution invested in the U.S. stock market, giving them a tangible stake in the most powerful economy in the world. For most families, claiming that investment will be as simple as checking a box.
This initial federal investment in Trump Accounts is only the beginning. We are now seeing in real time a groundswell of support for Trump Accounts from philanthropists, charitable organizations, employers, and state governments. This is a broad and growing bipartisan coalition that recognizes the simple steps we can take today to shape a lifetime of financial stability for American citizens. Early donors have set a powerful example: Michael and Susan Dell donated an astonishing $6.25 billion—the largest single private investment in American children in our nation’s history. And Ray Dalio joined shortly thereafter to launch Treasury’s “50 State Challenge,” which will mobilize partnerships with philanthropy across the country.
States have been leaders for years in the effort to build generational wealth for America’s children through their work with child savings accounts and financial education initiatives. Those efforts have shown what is possible with state involvement, and their experience will be essential as we move from policy to implementation. Treasury looks forward to working closely with governors and state agencies to build on what already works, scale best practices, and ensure Trump Accounts are integrated into existing financial education and outreach efforts.
I want to take a moment to call on businesses and employers across the country to participate in this effort. Many employers already help their workers save for retirement; now, we have a chance to extend that same culture of saving to the next generation. Employer contributions, family matches, and educational partnerships can multiply the impact of every Trump Account. Every contribution, every lesson, and every bit of encouragement matters.
The true power of Trump Accounts lies not only in the dollars saved and invested, but in the education and experience they create. Financial education and financial participation go hand in hand. These accounts are an opportunity for children to learn how to invest and grow their money through real-world experience. As children see their accounts grow, they learn how markets work, how patience pays off, and how financial stability builds independence.
As chair of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission, I intend to use this Commission as a platform for action. I am calling on every federal agency represented here to mobilize around Trump Accounts—by aligning programs, sharing expertise, and integrating these accounts into your financial education, outreach, and service efforts.
Trump Accounts embody the principle of learning by doing. By giving America’s children a day-one stake in our economy, these accounts turn financial education into hands-on experience. I look forward to working with all of you to ensure that every child, every family, and every community seizes the opportunity Trump Accounts present to learn, grow, and prosper through this groundbreaking investment program.
With that, I’ll hand it over to Geof Gradler, who is acting for the Vice Chair of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission.
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