President Trump uses executive order to cut off funding to international NGOs linked to abortion

The ban on international non-governmental organizations that perform or promote abortions from receiving US government funding, nicknamed the Mexico City Policy, was reinstated today with President Trump’s executive order.

The policy, initially put in place by the Reagan administration, was rescinded by the Obama administration in 2009.

NGOs that offer or promote abortions as part of their family planning services will be prevented from receiving any assistance from the US Agency for International Development, one of the largest contributors to international development assistance.

photo Alyson Jones

The order comes one day after the 44th anniversary of the Roe V. Wade Supreme Court ruling that made abortion legal, and days before the annual “March for Life” in Washington on Jan. 27.

“Life is a precious and sacred gift, and we must do all we can to protect it,” said Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas), chairman of the House’s health subcommittee.

“I applaud President Trump for taking this important action and look forward to continuing to work together in advancing pro-life policies and protecting taxpayer dollars.”

“For yrs, U.S. has debated abortion,” Sen. James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican, tweeted Monday. “At least we can agree no taxpayer should be forced to pay for it.”

Democrats denounced the order as reflecting a “dangerous obsession” with rolling back reproductive rights.

“President Trump’s reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule ignores decades of research, instead favoring ideological politics over women and families,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in a statement.

“I will continue to stand up to President Trump and Republican leadership in Congress who are intent on rolling back women’s access to reproductive healthcare, and will introduce bipartisan legislation to repeal the Global Gag Rule for good.”

In a statement issued shortly after the action was signed, NARAL Pro-Choice America slammed the move.

“Donald Trump has turned his anti-women rhetoric into policy, and made it more difficult for women and families all over the world to access vital reproductive care. He really is living up to the lowest of expectations,” NARAL’s president, Ilyse Hogue, wrote.