The American Family Association (AFA) is urging the incoming Trump administration to quickly reinstate the Mexico City Policy, which forbids U.S. federal funds from assisting groups engaged in performing or advocating abortion as a means of family planning overseas.
Officially referred to as the “Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance” strategy, the policy has historically shaped U.S. foreign aid to match principles giving life and family top priority.
“The Mexico City Policy and morally responsible United Nations funding are essential to upholding the sanctity of life and ending harmful, racially motivated population control policies imposed worldwide,” stated Walker Wildmon, AFA Vice President.
Originally presented in 1984, the measure has been alternatively embraced and revoked based on the attitude of the current government on reproductive health financing. Restoring the legislation, Wildmon stressed, would honor American taxpayer values and respect of national sovereignty. It was rolled back within days of President Joe Biden taking office.
The Brookings Institution covered the Trump administration’s handling of the law writing “Just days into his administration—Trump reinstated the Mexico City Policy, following the precedent set by his Republican predecessors. However, the administration went a step further by introducing a more expansive policy—Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance (PLGHA)—which extended the restrictions not only to family planning funds but to all U.S. global health assistance.”
That action received widespread applause by the pro-life community.
“Missouri Right to Life has high hopes that President Donald Trump will reinstate the Mexico City Policy, as he did in his first term as President, to prevent U.S. tax dollars from promoting and performing abortions around the world, Susan Klein, Executive Director, Missouri Right to Life told Metro Voice.
The AFA is also encouraging the government to examine U.S. financial commitments to United Nations activities. Pointing to the almost $100 million now granted to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for such initiatives, the organization attacked the absence of continuous monitoring in UN funding.
Abortion proponents and U.S. media outlets such as TheHill.com refer to the policy as a “gag rule” that threatens abortion rights around the world. Maniza Habib, opinion writer for The Hill stated in September, “the global gag rule has become a political football, which subsequent Democratic administrations rescinded and subsequent Republican administrations reinstated.”
She stated how much money is at stake, if the rule is reinstated. “It would affect about $51 billion in funding (based on current levels), including U.S. aid to multilateral organizations, foreign governments and U.S.-based NGOs.”
Calling for “a re-evaluation of these contributions to ensure that American taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, adhering to ethical and moral standards that honor human dignity and family values,” Wildmon said
The AFA argues that quick action by President Trump and his government to restore the Mexico City Policy would be an essential first step towards developing a U.S. foreign aid policy grounded on ethical, life-affirming values.
–Dwight Widaman