U.S. Representative Chris Smith, who in the past has championed PEPFAR, the U.S. global AIDS initiative, is adding his voice to critics who claim that the initiative is being used to fund abortion-related programs.
“President Biden has hijacked PEPFAR … in order to promote abortion on demand,” the New Jersey Republican wrote in a letter to colleagues that Devex obtained. He goes on to say that “bad actor” NGOs that promote abortion have received $1.34 billion in PEPFAR funds since fiscal year 2021.
The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief — like all U.S. foreign assistance programs — is legally barred from funding abortion. It also operates in many countries where abortion is heavily restricted. Several of the organizations Smith names in his letter said that the information about them is incorrect and that they abide by all U.S. and local laws. They reiterated to Devex that the funding they receive from the U.S. government does not go to support abortion.
About the author
Adva Saldinger@AdvaSal
Adva Saldinger is a Senior Reporter at Devex where she covers development finance, as well as U.S. foreign aid policy. Adva explores the role the private sector and private capital play in development and authors the weekly Devex Invested newsletter bringing the latest news on the role of business and finance in addressing global challenges. A journalist with more than 10 years of experience, she has worked at several newspapers in the U.S. and lived in both Ghana and South Africa.
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