Trump Accounts Get Another Big Employer As American Airlines Signs On

American Airlines just became the latest major employer to throw its weight behind one of the Trump administration's flagship family investment programs, and the benefits for workers are real. The carrier will deposit $1,000 of its own funds into each eligible employee's child's account, matching the $1,000 Treasury contribution.

American has nearly 140,000 employees worldwide, more than 40,000 of them in Texas. The company says thousands of their children could qualify. For those who do, American's money doubles the initial deposit to $2,000.

American Airlines Group CEO Robert Isom announced the new benefit Monday in Austin alongside Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who was one of the driving forces behind getting Trump Accounts through Congress. American plans to have its program running in 2027. 

Isom said the company wanted to build on what Washington had already put on the table.

“We appreciate the Trump Administration and Congress for creating Trump Accounts and providing eligible children born between 2025 and 2028 with a $1,000 federal contribution. We’re proud to build on that investment by matching the federal contribution for eligible children of our team members and offering other eligible team members the opportunity to make pretax contributions to their children’s accounts.”

The match isn't limited to one per worker. American spokesman Matt Miller said the company will contribute $1,000 for each eligible child. An employee with two qualifying children gets two matches.

Another piece is coming in 2027. American intends to allow eligible workers to direct up to $2,500 of pretax pay into Trump Accounts each year after the Treasury finishes issuing the rules. Workers with more than one account would split that $2,500 among them. The airline says about a third of its workforce will qualify for the payroll option. 

Trump Accounts are 530A investment accounts for children under 18. The federal $1,000 goes to accounts opened for children born from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2028. Treasury says about 1.4 million children have already been signed up and qualify for the money.

The government deposit isn't the ceiling. Parents, grandparents, and others can contribute up to $5,000 per year until the year before the child turns 18. The investments grow tax-deferred. 

American Airlines isn't an outlier here, either. More than 50 companies have already committed to putting money into Trump Accounts for employees in some form. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are among the companies offering the full $1,000 match.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called American's decision another sign companies are buying into the idea.

“It is encouraging to see our nation’s leading companies, including American Airlines, supporting this effort by offering matching contributions for their employees.”

Then there is Michael Dell.

Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell and his wife, Susan, have pledged $6.25 billion for Trump Accounts. Their program will add another $250 for qualifying children under 10 living in ZIP codes with a median income below $150,000.

Cruz said the goal goes beyond the current crop of newborns. He wants investment accounts eventually reaching every American child.

“That is what the president has said. That is what the Treasury Secretary has said. That is what is written into the statute: That every child will have an investment account and that way every child has skin in the game.”

For qualifying American Airlines families, the choice is obvious. The account starts with $2,000 before they put in a cent themselves: $1,000 from Treasury and another $1,000 from American. More than 50 companies are already participating, and American, with 140,000 employees, is one of the largest employers yet to join.

Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and bold policies, America’s economy is back on track.

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