The Legislation That Turned Fathers Into ATMs #history #truth

Added: 2026-05-06

In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed into law a pivotal child support bill that established federal involvement in family law, marking a significant shift in how non-custodial parents were held financially accountable for their children. Ford's signing statement expressed concerns about federal government intrusion into domestic relations, foreshadowing the ongoing complex dynamics between federal and state jurisdictions in family law that persist today. This legislation represented a bipartisan effort to hold 'runaway fathers' accountable and created the foundation for the modern child support system.