Donald Trump intends to sign “100 executive orders” shortly after taking office on Jan. 20 — one of which is expected to be the “global gag rule.” Reinstated by every Republican U.S. president since Ronald Reagan, this policy states that no organization can receive U.S. foreign assistance if they provide abortion services or information, advocate for abortion, or refer someone to abortion care.
Trump’s signature on the global gag rule has the potential to be a death warrant for many women. Contrary to its stated intent of “protecting life,” organizations such as the one I work for, MSI Reproductive Choices, have documented that it does the opposite. When women and girls are denied fundamental reproductive health services, unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal deaths increase.
As the largest global funder of development assistance, the U.S. government is uniquely positioned to curtail abortion access, dangling ongoing global health funding to enforce anti-abortion restrictions.
About the author
Beth Schlachter
Beth Schlachter is MSI Reproductive Choices’ senior director of U.S. external relations. Beth has worked in women’s health and rights for 20 years, including at International Planned Parenthood Federation and as executive director of FP2020-FP2030. Beth was a career diplomat at the U.S. Department of State working at embassies in Uganda and South Africa.
