Trump Takes Bold Step: Bans Foreign Aid and Overhauls Abortion Funding Guidelines

In a significant policy shift, President Donald Trump has reinstated the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits foreign aid workers from offering information about abortion. This move, according to global health experts, poses serious risks to women and girls worldwide.

Originally introduced in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan, the Mexico City Policy restricts foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) receiving U.S. family planning funds from promoting abortion-related services. Reproductive rights advocates have labeled it the “global gag rule” due to its stringent limitations on counseling and referrals. The policy has fluctuated with changing presidential administrations over the years.

Rachana Desai Martin, chief government and external relations officer at the Center for Reproductive Rights, expressed concern over the potential repercussions of the reinstatement. “During the prior Trump administration, we witnessed the damaging effects of this rule, which led to increased pregnancy-related deaths and reduced access to vital reproductive services,” she stated. Many clinics were forced to close, exacerbating health disparities among vulnerable populations.

The reinstatement follows guidelines outlined in Project 2025, a comprehensive blueprint from the Heritage Foundation and various anti-abortion organizations. The document suggests a broad reapplication of the Mexico City Policy across all forms of U.S. foreign assistance, even humanitarian aid.

The executive order emphasizes a plan to extend the policy’s requirements to global health assistance across various governmental departments. Advocates fear that this will jeopardize not only abortion access, but also comprehensive reproductive health services, including HIV treatment and contraceptive access.

Janeen Madan Keller, deputy director of global health policy at the Center for Global Development, noted that the expanded policy could lead to an increase in unplanned pregnancies and higher abortion rates. She highlighted that previous reinstatements had adverse effects on healthcare access for women and girls.

On the same day Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy, he also rejoined the Geneva Consensus Declaration, a pact asserting that there is no international right to abortion. This agreement, initiated by the U.S. and five other countries in 2020, has significant implications for global reproductive rights.

In addition, Trump issued another executive order enforcing the Hyde Amendment, which restricts the use of federal funds for abortions, with exceptions for cases of rape, incest, or medical emergencies. The order criticized the Biden administration for allowing more funding avenues for elective abortions.

The discussions surrounding the Hyde Amendment and the Mexico City Policy have reignited legislative efforts. Republican Senators have proposed measures to solidify restrictions on federal funding for abortion services. However, the implications of these changes extend beyond abortion, potentially threatening broader public health services.