Donald Trump has approved a new executive bill that aims to reintroduce the ‘global gag rule’ concerning abortions. But what does this entail?
President Trump, having only been in the Oval Office for a few days, has not hesitated to make his presence felt.
He has signed several executive orders, which include reversing the TikTok ban, altering immigration policies, and asserting that there are ‘only two genders.’ These actions were taken just hours after resuming his role in the White House.
Now, the president has endorsed a new executive bill intended to bring back the ‘global gag rule’ on abortions, also known as the ‘Mexico City policy.’
This executive bill, referred to as the ‘Mexico City policy,’ terminates US aid to any foreign organization that provides abortion services, counseling, or advocacy.
Essentially, organizations now face a dilemma: discontinue all abortion-related activities or forfeit financial assistance from the US.
Additionally, organizations seeking US aid must demonstrate that they will not use funds from any source, including non-US donors, for abortion-related services.
This policy is a common tool for Republican presidents, first introduced by Ronald Reagan during a 1984 United Nations conference.
The policy has long been contentious, frequently being enacted by Republican administrations and revoked by Democratic ones.
The bill is sometimes referred to as the ‘global gag rule’ by critics due to its restrictions not only on services but also on speech.
The Guttmacher Institute, which assesses abortion restrictions and their impacts, reports that the policy can limit access to contraception and lead women to unsafe abortions.
Rebecca Hart Holder, president of Reproductive Equity Now, commented: “Reinstating the Mexico City policy will have deadly consequences for people across the globe.
“The United States is a vital partner to healthcare providers and organizations around the world, and robbing those frontline providers of their ability to provide the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, and even information about people’s options, will result in people losing their lives to pregnancy complications.”