Policy over people: U.S. to burn $9.7M in birth control

A stockpile of nearly $9.7 million in U.S.-funded contraceptives is set to be destroyed in Europe, following a policy shift that blocked their distribution to international aid organizations.

The supplies, including long-acting contraceptive implants, IUDs, injectables and birth control pills, have been stored in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium, since January. Purchased through U.S. foreign aid programs, the products were intended for distribution across low-income countries through USAID’s global family-planning initiatives.

But under the reinstated Mexico City Policy, also known as the “Global Gag Rule,” foreign non-governmental organizations that receive U.S. funding are barred from offering, referring for or even discussing abortion services. Though the stockpile contains no actual abortion drugs, U.S. officials have declined multiple offers from humanitarian groups to repackage and distribute the items, citing branding and policy compliance concerns.

“This is clearly not about saving money. It feels more like an ideological assault on reproductive rights,” said Sarah Shaw, associate director of advocacy at MSI Reproductive Choices, one of several organizations that offered to take the supplies. “MSI offered to pay for repackaging, shipping and import duties, but they were not open to that.”

The incineration, scheduled to take place in France, is expected to cost U.S. taxpayers more than $160,000, even though many of the products remain viable through at least 2027. Public health advocates say the stockpile could have met the contraceptive needs of more than 650,000 people for a year.

Medical experts and reproductive health groups note that while some anti-abortion advocates classify IUDs and emergency contraception as “abortifacients,” these products prevent pregnancy and are not abortion-inducing. Critics of the decision argue the destruction reflects a growing push to conflate contraception with abortion access.

Lawmakers from both parties have called on the administration to reverse course. However, efforts in Congress to intervene are unlikely to take effect before the supplies are destroyed.

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