The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has issued the first official guidance for implementation of the Mexico City Policy, also known as the “global gag rule.”
The roll-out of the standard provisions, issued Friday, stipulates that any non-U.S. NGO “will not furnish any assistance for family planning” in USAID-recipient countries, or support other organizations that do so. The document also details steps NGOs must take to certify their acceptance of this deal and the consequences — likely termination of U.S. funding — that can result from violating the order.
These provisions effectively make the global gag rule operational for family planning awards under USAID, according to the reproductive health care group PAI. That means that any organization offering legal abortion services — or any information about abortions — will have to choose between this work and often vital U.S. funds.