First lady Melania Trump announced an investment from the Trump administration to support youth transitioning out of foster care.
The $25 million investment in President Trump’s FY26 budget is part of the Be Best initiative.
“I am proud to have successfully secured $25 million to provide housing for individuals aging out of foster care. This is another essential measure that ensures the safety, welfare, and autonomy of those in the foster community,” the first lady said. “Secretary Scott Turner’s commitment will provide thousands of youth transitioning out of the foster care system with dedicated rental assistance and other supportive services to promote stability and self-sufficiency.”
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner called the investment a “game changer” for youth in the foster system.
“I am so appreciative of the First Lady’s efforts, for her commitment to helping our Nation’s foster youth through her BE BEST initiative and for championing public-private partnerships that are changing lives every day,” Turner stated.
Trump’s Be Best initiative was launched in 2018 to support the well-being of children.
Another effort backed by the first lady made its way to President Trump’s desk in April.
The bill, called the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks (TAKE IT DOWN) Act, “generally prohibits the nonconsensual online publication of intimate visual depictions of individuals, both authentic and computer-generated, and requires certain online platforms to promptly remove such depictions upon receiving notice of their existence,” a legislative summary explains.
“Today’s bipartisan passage of the Take It Down Act is a powerful statement that we stand united in protecting the dignity, privacy, and safety of our children,” the first lady said in a statement at the time. “I am thankful to the Members of Congress—both in the House and Senate—who voted to protect the well-being of our youth. Through this critical legislation and our continued focus with ‘Be Best,’ we are building a future where every child can thrive and achieve their full potential.”
