WASHINGTON—The federal government is putting greater emphasis on investing, digital finance and fraud prevention as part of an updated national strategy aimed at improving Americans’ financial knowledge and decision-making.
The Financial Literacy and Education Commission released its 2026 update to the U.S. National Strategy for Financial Literacy, establishing four priority areas: youth financial capability, saving and investing, digital financial literacy, and education about scams and fraud.
The commission is chaired by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and includes leaders from 23 federal agencies as well as the White House Domestic Policy Council. The strategy is intended to coordinate financial-education efforts across the federal government and provide a framework for programs aimed at helping Americans make more informed financial decisions.
“The newest United States National Strategy for Financial Literacy is a roadmap to help every American build the knowledge and skills needed to achieve financial security for themselves and their families,” Bessent said.
A central focus of the new strategy is introducing financial concepts earlier in life. The youth-financial-capability initiative calls for building basic money-management skills beginning in childhood and continuing into young adulthood.
The saving-and-investing component seeks to increase knowledge about building long-term financial security and includes promoting awareness of Trump Accounts, the federally backed investment accounts for children launched nationally this year. Treasury has positioned the accounts as both a savings vehicle and a way to give young Americans direct experience with investing.
Bessent said the accounts demonstrate how financial education can move beyond classroom instruction by allowing children and their families to save and invest together.
The strategy also places greater emphasis on digital financial literacy as consumers increasingly use online banking, investment platforms and other digital financial products. Federal officials have said the growth of social media, online communities and artificial intelligence as sources of financial information has increased the importance of teaching consumers how to evaluate information and navigate digital markets.
Fraud prevention is the fourth major component, with the commission seeking to give consumers more tools to recognize scams, avoid fraudulent schemes and limit financial losses.
The strategy recommends that financial education be delivered when consumers are making important financial decisions, tailored to different stages of life and reinforced over time. It also calls for more hands-on learning, stronger instruction and greater evaluation of whether financial-education programs are producing measurable results.
The Financial Literacy and Education Commission was established under legislation enacted in 2003 and serves as the federal government’s coordinating body for financial-literacy policy and education programs.
