While the fight continues over the Trump administration’s pause of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for review, especially in the courts, it’s worthwhile to look at what’s been on the chopping block thanks to a review from Elon Musk. Among those entities and causes being cut, which hasn’t gotten nearly enough attention, is the money that Planned Parenthood stands to lose.
Predictably, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), put out a statement decrying Trump’s pause, especially since USAID handles the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
As the statement, warning about how “The Trump administration has launched a ‘war on development’, leading human rights organisations say,” read in part [emphasis added]:
The executive order implementing a 90-day pause in US foreign development aid is wreaking havoc on the lifesaving work of human rights, civil society, and grassroots organisations —according to ILGA World and IPPF.
- Sexual and reproductive health services suddenly were forced to suddenly stop or drastically cut operations, including those further impacted by the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule, leaving millions of people without access to lifesaving care.
- The funding suspension initially impacted also the over 20 million people living with HIV directly supported through the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Later, however, a life-saving humanitarian assistance waiver” walked back the decision, yet excludes activities related to abortion or family planning, gender or DEI programs, gender-affirming surgeries, and other activities deemed to be “non-life saving assistance.”
- IPPF anticipates it will lose US$61 million from cuts due to refusing to sign the Global Gag Rule. Programs affected – mainly in Africa – provide sexual and reproductive health services for millions of women and youth, many of whom will be forced to continue with a pregnancy they did not want or have an unsafe abortion they may not survive.
- United Nations agencies have begun cutting back their global aid operations as a direct consequence of the 90-day foreign aid suspension.
- Without guaranteed funding, implementing organisations will have no choice but to lay off thousands of health workers and programme staff.
- Even if funds are reinstated after the “assessment of consistency with US foreign policy”, the bottoming out of the health sector means there are no guarantees that organisations will be able to continue serving our communities. […]
— Read More: townhall.com
