US Government funding for abortions overseas has been halted in one of Donald Trump’s first acts as President.
The Executive Order, signed by the President on 24 January, reversed Biden administration support for organisations that promote or conduct abortions as a method of ‘family planning’ outside the US.
At the same time, Trump also signed an order scrapping the use of taxpayers’ money to pay for abortions on demand nationwide and rescinding the recategorisation of the procedure as ‘healthcare’.
Mexico City Policy
The White House said that the reinstatement of the embargo on “the use of federal taxpayer dollars for abortion overseas” – known as the Mexico City Policy – was in keeping with Trump’s commitment “to support the sanctity of every human life”.
The Mexico City Policy was first introduced by President Reagan in 1984, and has been overturned and reinstated by subsequent administrations along Democrat and Republican party lines.
On coming to power in 2017, Trump signed an additional measure aimed at removing federal funds from abortion groups such as Planned Parenthood by allowing states to divert money to organisations which do not provide abortions.
March for Life
The presidential memorandums came only hours after Trump addressed the nation’s annual March for Life in Washington DC.
In a pre-recorded message, the President applauded the marchers’ mission “to forge a society that welcomes and protects every child as a beautiful gift from the hand of our Creator”.
He pledged to “stand proudly for families and for life” and stop the push “for a federal right to unlimited abortion on demand”.
Vice President JD Vance, who attended the event in person, stated: “We march to protect the unborn; we march to proclaim and live out the sacred truth that every single child is a miracle and a gift from God.”
Closures
In December, it was reported that 76 independent abortion centres have closed or ceased to carry out abortions since Roe v Wade was overturned in 2022.
The Abortion Care Network, a national association of independent abortion providers, blamed the closures on new legal protections for the unborn, successful pro-life campaigns, and dwindling resources.
Earlier in 2024, falling donations caused the National Abortion Federation to cut its funding for abortions by 50 per cent, from $6 million to $3 million a month.
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