The U.S. State Department has introduced three sweeping new rules that would significantly restrict how organizations implement U.S. foreign assistance, extending long-standing abortion-related limits to include gender ideology and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
For decades, Republican administrations have enforced the Mexico City Policy, or global gag rule, which blocks U.S. federal funding to international nongovernmental organizations that provide or inform about abortion, even when those activities are funded by other donors. But the new rules dramatically expand such restrictions. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said in a speech on Friday that the changes make the policy three times larger.
The restrictions go far beyond abortion. They apply across all foreign assistance funding — not just global health — and, for the first time, extend to a new universe of recipients, including international organizations.