The U.S. said it would burn $9.7 million of birth control. Its fate is still unclear

September 16, 2025
By Rachel Treisman

For months, $9.7 million worth of birth control meant for women in low-income countries has sat stranded in a Belgian warehouse — apparently destined for destruction — as a result of the Trump administration's freeze on foreign aid.

…Humanitarians' hopes were seemingly dashed last week, when the New York Times, citing a statement from USAID, reported that the contraceptives had been destroyed. But the next day, it later reported, Belgian authorities entered the warehouse and confirmed the contraceptives were still there.

Continued: https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/09/16/nx-s1-5511304/birth-control-foreign-aid-destruction-belgium-warehouse

Destroyed Contraceptives: 170,000 unwanted pregnancies may occur in Nigeria, others, expert warns

Ms Oga said the action could result in thousands of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions on the continent.

Ambali Abdulkabeer
September 15, 2025

A sexual and reproductive health and rights expert, Jessica Oga, has expressed concern over the consequences of President Donald Trump’s incineration of contraceptives and other birth control pills meant for Nigeria and other African countries. Ms Oga said the action could result in thousands of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions on the continent.

“The loss of these contraceptives will directly affect women’s ability to prevent unintended pregnancies,” said Ms Oga in an interview on Sunday. “Estimates suggest that halting the distribution of these commodities could result in over 170,000 unintended pregnancies and tens of thousands of unsafe abortions in Africa alone.”

Continued: https://gazettengr.com/destroyed-contraceptives-170000-unwanted-pregnancies-may-occur-in-nigeria-others-expert-warns/

15.09.2025

News

Afya na Haki

burning of contraception

destruction of contraceptives

Setting fire to women’s health

The Trump administration would rather burn contraceptives than help women and girls in developing nations.

Jennifer Weiss-Wolf
Aug 13, 2025

According to congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump, the “big, beautiful bill” is all about eliminating fiscal waste and preventing fraud. Yet the State Department is poised to burn millions of dollars—quite literally, in a French incinerator—paying $167,000 to set ablaze a $9.7 million stockpile of U.S. taxpayer-funded contraceptives.

For the past few weeks, global reporting has revealed a collection of IUDs, birth control pills, and implants—all viable for usage for several more years—stored in a warehouse in Belgium. Intended for distribution to women around the world—people living in refugee camps, war zones, and under fragile health systems—these supplies were purchased by the U.S. government before the Trump administration’s order freezing foreign aid, shutting down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and reinstating the Global Gag Rule (a.k.a. the “Mexico City Policy,” which requires foreign non-governmental organizations to certify they will not perform or promote abortion using funding from any source. A damning trifecta, indeed.

Continued; https://contrarian.substack.com/p/setting-fire-to-womens-health

USA – Policy over people: U.S. to burn $9.7M in birth control

Critics say policy conflates abortion and birth control; aid groups say supplies could have helped 650,000 people

By CK Smith
July 27, 2025

A stockpile of nearly $9.7 million in U.S.-funded contraceptives is set to be destroyed in Europe, following a policy shift that blocked their distribution to international aid organizations.

The supplies, including long-acting contraceptive implants, IUDs, injectables and birth control pills, have been stored in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium, since January. Purchased through U.S. foreign aid programs, the products were intended for distribution across low-income countries through USAID’s global family-planning initiatives.

Continued: https://www.salon.com/2025/07/27/policy-over-people-u-s-to-burn-9-7m-in-birth-control/

27.07.2025