With the cessation of funding from the U.S. government, nearly 50 million women are at risk of losing access to contraception, which may lead to increased maternal mortality and poverty.
Major Setback for Women's Health: U.S. Ends Support for Global Contraceptive Access
Major Setback for Women's Health: U.S. Ends Support for Global Contraceptive Access
The Trump administration's cuts to family planning funding will leave millions of women in developing countries without essential contraceptive services.
The Trump administration has announced the termination of financial support for family planning initiatives in developing nations, a move projected to cut nearly 50 million women off from access to contraceptive services. Although this policy change has not garnered widespread attention amidst other significant reductions in American foreign aid, the ramifications are profound, with potential rises in maternal deaths and overall poverty levels.
Previously, the U.S. supplied about 40% of the funding dedicated to family planning programs in 31 developing countries—approximately $600 million in 2023, the last verifiable year for contributions, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). This support enabled the provision of contraceptive devices and services for more than 47 million women and couples, preventing an estimated 17.1 million unintended pregnancies and 5.2 million unsafe abortions, as analyzed by the Guttmacher Institute, a sexual health research organization.
Analysts predict that without the annual funding, an alarming 34,000 women could succumb to preventable maternal fatalities each year. “The magnitude of the impact is mind-boggling,” stated Marie Ba, who coordinates the Ouagadougou Partnership aimed at enhancing investments and access to family planning across nine West African nations.
The cuts are part of an overarching strategy by the Trump administration to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.). As U.S.A.I.D. transitioned to a mere subsection of the State Department, the latter has not responded to inquiries regarding the cessation of family planning funding. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously labeled these aid programs as ineffective and misaligned with U.S. strategic interests.
