US pulls away from family planning. What about the $600M saved for it?
Since Donald Trump returned to office, the president has been clear: Family planning and reproductive health care should be slashed from America’s foreign assistance portfolio.
The Trump administration hollowed out the U.S. Agency for International Development, eliminating 90% of its reproductive health programs in the process. It withdrew from UN Women and the U.N. Population Fund, stating the organizations were “contrary to the interests of the United States.” And it expanded the Mexico City Policy, barring organizations from accessing U.S. aid if their activities touched abortion provision, “gender ideology,” or diversity, equity, and inclusion — even if funded by another donor.
But earlier this year, the U.S. Congress passed a foreign affairs bill that included more than $607.5 million for family planning and reproductive health care — creating a standoff between lawmakers and the White House that is yet to be resolved.
About the author
Elissa Miolene
Elissa Miolene covers U.S. foreign assistance from Washington, D.C. She previously covered education at The San Jose Mercury News, and has written for The Wall Street Journal, the San Francisco Chronicle, and other news outlets across the world. Before shifting to journalism, Elissa led communications for aid agencies in the United States, East Africa, and South Asia.
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