First Lady Melania Trump on Wednesday called on Congress to pass updated legislation aimed at improving outcomes for children aging out of the foster care system, emphasizing the need for expanded support as they transition into independent adulthood.

Speaking during a roundtable with members of the House Ways and Means Committee on Capitol Hill, Trump highlighted the challenges faced by foster youth, particularly in education and stability. She noted that only a small percentage of individuals in foster care earn college degrees and pointed to barriers such as housing instability, financial hardship, transportation issues, and limited access to technology.

Melania Trump urged lawmakers to act on bipartisan proposals designed to modernize the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood, a federal initiative that assists young people leaving the foster system. The proposed updates would expand access to housing, education, and workforce training programs.

She referenced the “Fostering the Future for American Children and Families” initiative, created by executive order under Donald Trump, as a foundation for broader reforms, arguing that Congress now has an opportunity to build on those efforts through legislation.

Lawmakers from both parties have introduced measures that would represent the most significant overhaul of the Chafee program since its creation in 1999. The proposals aim to address gaps in support that advocates say leave many foster youth struggling to achieve self-sufficiency.

Testimony at the roundtable included accounts from individuals with firsthand experience in the foster system. Participants described financial and structural challenges, including limited funding that fails to cover basic living expenses and insufficient support systems as they pursue higher education or employment.

A 2025 report from the Government Accountability Office found that states had returned millions in unused Chafee program funds despite ongoing needs among foster youth, underscoring inefficiencies in the current system.

Melania Trump’s appearance on Capitol Hill marked a rare public policy push as first lady and follows previous advocacy efforts focused on child welfare issues, including initiatives tied to her broader “Be Best” campaign.