President Trump’s has already entered the war on abortion.
On January 23, 2017, Trump signed an executive order that would end federal funding, or foreign aid for international organizations that promote or provide abortions. This order would leave many women in the dark.
This order has been in political soccer for years now. It basically prevents countries receiving any type of U.S aid for performing abortion services. This includes talking about abortions, or referring patients to providers. It even prevents providing information.
The “global gag rule”, another name for the executive order, has had terrible consequences on poor women in the affected countries. Trump has said before that women who have abortions deserve “some form of punishment.”
Developing countries were forced to reduce or shut down services because of the decision to stop the donation of contraceptives. This includes countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. This happened between the years of 2001 to 2009.
Presidents in the past have enacted and rescinded the rule. The idea originated under the Reagan administration.
Pro-life Republicans met the decision with overall praise. Democrats, however, responded by saying that the order silences women’s reproductive choices.
Trump’s decision does not affect many Planned Parenthood Organizations in the United States. However, it does affect the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).
The IPPF is an organization that provides family planning services. It aids over 150 countries. Under this order, IPPF would lose an estimate of $100 million from the US for not complying.
As of right now, IPPF has decided that they will not comply with the order.
Trump’s reinstatement of the global gag comes days after National Women’s Marches. It also comes just one day after the 44th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade case. That decision made abortion legal in the United States
