US funding cuts to pro-abortion groups ‘have not disrupted’ women’s health

A recent review of US global healthcare funding found minimal disruption to care provision after pro-abortion groups had their money axed.

Two prominent pro-abortion agencies, which lost funding in 2017, predicted that lives would be at stake and that it would ‘negatively impact women’s health’.

However, the State Department investigation conducted in 2019 reports that – in most cases – there has been a smooth transition of legitimate healthcare to other providers with little or no disruption to services.

‘Protecting life’

Since taking office in 2017, President Trump has used US funding overseas to promote a pro-life agenda through his “Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance” (PLGHA) policy.

PLGHA only funds agencies that “will not perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning or provide financial support to any other organization that conducts such activities”.

Abortion giants Marie Stopes International (MSI) and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) refused to comply and had their funding cut as a result.

Other partners, which accept the pro-life PLGHA policy, have been able to meet outstanding health needs in all but a few cases.

Funding forfeited

The recent review of the policy declares: “The U.S. Government is committed to protecting human life before and after birth.”

It also states: “The purpose of the Policy is to prevent American taxpayers from subsidizing abortion through global health assistance”.

The review describes MSI and IPPF as “two of the largest and most-vocal organizations that have attempted to assert a global right to abortion on demand”.

It reveals that they had received around $145 million (£110 million) in total since 2014, but made clear that they are no longer eligible for funding.

‘Sacred gift’

Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly in September 2019, President Trump said that Americans will “never tire of defending innocent life”.

He went on to say that “we in America believe that every child — born and unborn — is a sacred gift from God”.