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Amy Sherman
By Amy Sherman December 19, 2017

No, Trump and Congress didn't pass bill ending child support

Child support is coming to an end in the United States thanks to President Donald Trump and Congress, at least that's what a fake news story on Facebook would have you believe.

"Law passed: All child support in the United States will end by beginning of 2018," stated the headline on tmzbreaking, a website that describes itself as "the most notorious fauxtire & satire entertainment website in the world."

Facebook users flagged the post as being potentially fabricated, as part of the social network’s efforts to combat fake news. The fake article has been circulating at least for a few months on Facebook. The end of the article directs readers to Channel50news, a prank website.

The dateline on the story says Sept. 20, 2016, but when we read the oldest comments at the bottom of the story, they started on Sept. 20, 2017.

Another hint that this is fake news is that the three-paragraph article has typos or sentences that make no sense:

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"President Trump claims he will no longer for any party of parent to pay child support. Trump also says that ant reports of abuse or negligence to a child from either party will result in the child automatically being turned over to the State Child Welfare."

While this fake story suggests that the federal government is wiping out child support, it’s worth noting that states set child support policies and have enforcement programs.

We emailed the authors of the website and did not get a reply.

A story stated that a law will end all child support in the United States in 2018, but no such law has been passed. We rate this claim Pants on Fire.

Our Sources

Tmzbreaking.com, "LAW PASSED: All Child Support in the United States Will End by Beginning of 2018," Sept. 20, 2017

Channel50news.com, Accessed Dec. 18, 2017

National Conference of State Legislatures, Child support overview, Aug. 11, 2017

National Child Support Enforcement Association, Reference materials and research, Accessed Dec. 18, 2017

Snopes, "No More Child Support After 2017?" Sept. 20, 2017

PolitiFact, "PolitiFact's guide to fake news websites and what they peddle," April 20, 2017

Interview, Andy Schwarz, National Child Support Enforcement Association spokesman, Dec. 18, 2017

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No, Trump and Congress didn't pass bill ending child support

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