Trump plans to block funding to groups that promote diversity policies abroad

The administration wants to expand a policy that already restricts U.S. funding to foreign groups that promote abortion access.

By Carmen Paun and Nahal Toosi

Oct 1, 2025

The Trump administration plans to block U.S. funding to organizations that do work abroad on issues related to gender identity and diversity, according to a U.S. official and nonprofit groups informed of the plan.

It’s a major expansion of the Mexico City Policy, which prevents foreign groups receiving U.S. global health funding from providing or promoting abortion, even if those programs are paid for with other sources of financing.

Continued: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/01/trump-plans-block-funding-groups-promote-diversity-policies-abroad-00591078

01.10.2025

News

Beth Schlachter

Global Gag Rule

Global Health Council

Mexico City policy

MSI Reproductive Choices

The U.S. is destroying $9.7 million in contraceptives. Is there another option?

July 28, 2025
By Rachel Treisman, NPR

The State Department has confirmed plans to destroy millions of dollars' worth of taxpayer-funded contraceptives meant for women in low-income countries. The controversial move comes as the Trump administration continues to scale back foreign aid.

A stockpile of family planning products — including IUDs, implants and pills — worth $9.7 million has been stuck at a warehouse in Belgium since the administration dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and froze foreign aid earlier this year, according to statements from multiple humanitarian groups and U.S. lawmakers.

Continued: https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/07/28/nx-s1-5482742/the-u-s-is-destroying-9-7-million-in-contraceptives-is-there-another-option

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

News

burning of contraception

Global Gag Rule

Mexico City policy

MSI Reproductive Choices

How will Canada lead on sexual and reproductive health and rights in the era of Trump?

Barely two months into his Presidency, Donald Trump has devastated global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

by Jacqueline Potvin
March 21, 2025

On January 24, Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy (the “global gag rule,”) which restricts US global health funding from going to any non-government organization that provides abortion services, advocacy, or information.

This reinstatement will harm women and people who can become pregnant, limiting their access to important healthcare information and services. Its effects will be exacerbated by wide-sweeping cuts to US Agency for International Development (USAID) funding and staff. These moves come at a time when Canada’s own commitments to global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), which have recently been strong, may be at risk.

Continued: https://rabble.ca/human-rights/how-will-canada-lead-on-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights-in-the-era-of-trump/

Amid Aid Cuts, a Renewed U.S. Policy Increases Health Risks for Women and Girls in Conflict Areas

While the Trump administration is gutting U.S. foreign aid across the board, programs aimed at women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health will be among those hardest hit. Crisis Group expert Cristal Downing describes why those living in conflict settings could pay the heaviest price.

Cristal Downing, Project Director, Gender and Conflict
March 3, 2025

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has implemented an unprecedented cutoff of U.S. foreign aid. On 20 January 2025, he froze international assistance for 90 days, claiming that this was so the federal government could review and ascertain whether U.S.-supported programs reflect U.S. interests and values. On 24 January, the State Department issued a “stop work” order, pausing all existing and new foreign aid. Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially provided for some exceptions to that order, including food assistance and military support for Egypt and Israel. On 29 January, he issued an additional waiver so that “life-saving humanitarian assistance” including medicine and other supplies would continue to flow, although it is unclear whether this has happened in practice. In early February, in an alleged effort to reduce federal spending, the administration subsumed the U.S. Agency for International Development into the State Department. Toward the end of the month, a flurry of contract cancellations and litigation added further to enormous global uncertainty about the future of U.S. foreign assistance – and led to disruptions in services ranging from famine relief to HIV treatment.

Continued: https://www.crisisgroup.org/global-united-states/amid-aid-cuts-renewed-us-policy-increases-health-risks-women-and-girls

Weaponizing Aid: How U.S. Policies Undermine Reproductive Health in Humanitarian Crises

U.S. restrictions on foreign aid like the global gag rule are endangering women and girls by cutting off access to essential reproductive healthcare in humanitarian crises.

2/18/2025
by Ira Memaj

Shortly after taking office, the Trump administration issued a cascade of executive orders—among them, the reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy, commonly referred to as the global gag rule (GGR). The GGR restricts U.S. funding for international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that provide, refer for, lobby or counsel on abortion care. While much has been covered about the GGR’s adverse effects on global health and NGOs, its impact on vulnerable populations in humanitarian settings, particularly refugee women and girls, has received less attention.

In 2024, a record 122.6 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced due to climate change, political unrest, persecution and armed conflict. More than 90 million women and girls are expected to require humanitarian aid, including sexual and reproductive health services, such as perinatal and abortion care, gender-based violence (GBV) support, and STI screening and treatment.

Continued: https://msmagazine.com/2025/02/18/us-global-gag-rule-refugee-women-healthcare-crisis-trump/

Trump’s reimposition of the Global Gag Rule denies many vital reproductive healthcare

Critics say the policy has led to deep cuts in funding for family planning

By Kelly Blanchard & Evelyn Opondo
Feb 17, 2025

On 24 January, US President Donald Trump issued guidance to reinstate the Global Gag Rule (GGR). This policy will lead to harm and human rights violations for women, girls and people of all genders worldwide, affecting their sexual and reproductive rights and well-being.

The GGR, formally known as Mexico City Policy or the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy, originally put in place by former president Ronald Reagan and expanded under the first Trump administration, says organisations that receive US funding may not provide information about abortion or abortion care. Non-US based NGOs are ineligible for US government global health funding if they use their own funds to provide, refer for or promote access to abortion.

Continued: https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/2025-02-17-trumps-reimposition-of-the-global-gag-rule-denies-many-vital-reproductive-healthcare/

Trump 2.0 instills fear in African abortion activists

Nita Bhalla
Jan 27, 2025

NAIROBI - African health activists fear a new crackdown on abortion across Africa after President Donald Trump reinstated an anti-abortion pact that cuts off U.S. funds to foreign charities that provide or promote abortions.

When Trump signed the Mexico City Policy, or "global gag rule", during his first term some African charities were forced to close, denying women safe abortions. It also emboldened local opposition to women's reproductive choice.

Continued: https://www.context.news/socioeconomic-inclusion/trump-20-instills-fear-in-african-abortion-activists

Trump’s assault on human rights, bodily autonomy and democracy

January 25, 2025
Ipas

Late on Friday, January 24th, President Trump doubled down on his administration’s anti-abortion policies, reinstating the harmful Global Gag Rule, rejoining the non-binding Geneva Consensus Declaration (GCD), and strengthening the Hyde Amendment.

“These actions add up to a violation of human rights, bodily autonomy and democracy, as well as an unprecedented attack on the reproductive rights of people in the U.S. and across the globe,” says Ipas President and CEO Anu Kumar.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/trumps-assault-on-human-rights-bodily-autonomy-and-democracy/

IPPF – Our Statement on the Reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule

Global Gag Rule (GGR) violates our core principles, and IPPF cannot and will never sign it.

IPPF
25 Jan 2025

On 24 January 2025, President Trump signed an executive order reinstating the Global Gag Rule (GGR).

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) - a federation of members and partners in 153 countries - fights for the right of every individual to decide about their own health, well-being and life. IPPF will never support policies which actively restrict or violate an individual’s right to bodily autonomy, including the right to safe abortion.

The GGR - also known as the Mexico City Policy - violates human rights by forcing women to continue with an unwanted pregnancy or into unsafe abortion, and IPPF will not tolerate it.

Continued: https://reliefweb.int/report/world/our-statement-reinstatement-global-gag-rule