(ZENIT News / Washington, 01.30.2025).- President Donald Trump has reinstated the Mexico City Policy, a long-standing U.S. government rule prohibiting federal funding for foreign organizations that provide or promote abortions. The executive order, signed on January 24, reverses the 2021 directive by former President Joe Biden, who had rescinded the policy early in his administration.
A Policy Caught in a Political Tug-of-War
First introduced by President Ronald Reagan in 1985, the Mexico City Policy has become a political pendulum, reinstated by every Republican president and revoked by every Democrat since its inception. The policy restricts U.S. aid to foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that perform or advocate for abortion as a method of family planning, though exceptions exist for cases involving rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is at risk.
During his first term, Trump expanded the policy beyond its traditional scope, applying it to a broader range of global health initiatives. His administration’s version, known as the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy, extended restrictions to organizations that received funding for services such as HIV/AIDS treatment and maternal health care if they also promoted abortion.
The policy is named after its first announcement at the International Conference on Population in Mexico City in 1984.
Part of a Broader Conservative Push
The reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy is just one of several executive actions Trump has signed since taking office for his second term. Within his first week, he has issued directives on climate policy, the death penalty, immigration, and transgender issues—several of which have sparked debate, including among U.S. Catholic bishops.
Trump also signed a separate order on Friday, directing federal agencies to comply with the Hyde Amendment, a long-standing provision that bans federal funding for most abortions within the United States. While the Hyde Amendment has been in place since 1980, Trump argued that the Biden administration had undermined it by allowing taxpayer dollars to fund elective abortions through various federal programs.
Praise from Pro-Life Advocates, Backlash from Abortion Supporters
The move was widely celebrated by pro-life leaders, who see it as a step toward cementing a culture of life in U.S. policy.
Life is winning in America,» former Vice President Mike Pence wrote on X (formerly Twitter), praising Trump’s reinstatement of the rule.
However, abortion-rights advocates and some Democratic lawmakers swiftly condemned the decision. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) called the Mexico City Policy a “dangerous measure” that limits access to “lifesaving reproductive health services” in developing countries. She warned that Trump’s administration would continue rolling back abortion rights and pledged that Democrats would fight back in every possible way.
A Pivotal Moment in the Global Abortion Debate
Trump’s reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy is expected to reshape U.S. foreign aid, particularly in countries that rely on American funding for healthcare programs. Abortion providers and advocates operating abroad will now face a choice: either sever ties with U.S. funding or stop offering abortion services and advocacy.
As the 2024 election cycle demonstrated, abortion remains one of the most divisive issues in American politics, with Trump solidifying his position as a champion of the pro-life movement. The reinstatement of the policy suggests that further restrictive abortion measures may follow in the coming months, setting the stage for continued legal and political battles at home and abroad.
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