U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have jointly signed a landmark executive order titled “Fostering the Future,” aimed at expanding educational and career support for America’s foster youth especially teenagers who are nearing the age at which they must transition out of the system.
The signing ceremony took place at the White House, where the First Lady emphasised that the initiative builds directly on her long standing advocacy for children and education. The executive order strengthens resources for vulnerable youth, widens access to scholarships, and improves pathways to higher learning and workforce preparation.
Under the new directive, the federal government will increase collaboration between child welfare agencies, schools, and workforce programs to ensure that foster teens receive the academic guidance, skills training, and economic opportunities needed to build independent, successful futures.
“Our goal is to ensure that every child especially those facing the toughest circumstances has a chance to thrive,” the First Lady said during the signing ceremony.
The order highlights several priority areas:
- Educational support and scholarship access for foster teens
- Career readiness and skills development programs
- Transition planning for youth preparing to age out of the system
- Strengthened inter-agency coordination to track outcomes and improve long-term support
Advocates for foster youth have praised the initiative as a significant step toward addressing long-standing gaps in support for the more than 400,000 children currently in the U.S. foster system.
