American Airlines matching $1,000 Trump Account contributions for employees' children

American Airlines announced Monday it will match the federal government's $1,000 Trump Account seed contribution with an additional $1,000 of its own for eligible employees' children.

The company said thousands of children whose parents work for American Airlines could be eligible for the employer match. Trump Accounts — formally designated as 530A accounts — function as tax-deferred investment vehicles open to children who are U.S. residents under 18 years old. Parents or guardians of babies born between 2025 and 2028 who open an account receive the $1,000 initial deposit from the Treasury Department.

"At American Airlines, our purpose is to care for people on life's journey, and that includes helping our team members build a strong financial future for themselves and their families," CEO Robert Isom said in a statement.

Starting in 2027, the airline's program would also let eligible employees put as much as $2,500 of pretax earnings each year into a Trump Account, provided Treasury Department regulations are finalized to allow pretax paycheck deductions for dependent children's accounts. The carrier said the pretax contribution option will be available to around a third of its workforce, which numbers close to 140,000 people worldwide.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised the move in a statement. "It is encouraging to see our nation's leading companies, including American Airlines, supporting this effort by offering matching contributions for their employees," Bessent said.

According to the Treasury Department, American Airlines is one of more than 50 employers that have pledged some form of Trump Account contribution for their workforces. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have each pledged to match the federal $1,000 seed contribution dollar for dollar. The most recent published figures show roughly 1.4 million enrolled children are in line to receive the federal seed deposit.

After an account is opened, family members and other contributors — including parents, guardians, and grandparents — may add as much as $5,000 annually, up through the year prior to the child's 18th birthday.

The announcement comes as American Airlines has faced pressure to close a widening earnings gap with rivals Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. The carrier reorganized its senior leadership team in August , with Isom describing the move as "the first step in a series of actions" to sharpen execution. American carries approximately $35 billion in debt and expects roughly break-even results for 2026, while Delta and United are projecting solid profits.