The Trump administration will withhold over $30 billion in foreign aid to avoid funding “gender ideology” and diversity initiatives, expanding the Mexico City policy.
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration will refuse billions of dollars in potential foreign assistance to avoid promoting “gender ideology” and diversity initiatives.
A US official confirmed the policy shift on Thursday, framing it as an expansion of the long-standing Mexico City policy.
The new rules aim to “protect foreign assistance from subsidizing not only abortion as a method of family planning, but also gender ideology (and) discriminatory equity ideology / DEI,” an administration official said.
The anonymous official stated the expansion would cover more than $30 billion in potential aid, compared to $8 billion under the existing policy.
Republican administrations have historically banned US funding to NGOs involved with abortion under the Mexico City policy.
The exact impact remains unclear as the Trump administration has already dramatically slashed foreign assistance.
It previously dismantled the United States Agency for International Development, once the world’s largest governmental aid provider.
President Donald Trump has consistently criticised transgender rights and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
He frequently uses derogatory terms when referencing President Joe Biden’s support for the transgender community.
His administration has moved to ban transgender female athletes from girls’ sports teams in schools.
It also reversed a Biden-era decision to allow an “X” gender marker on US passports.
Trump argues that DEI efforts in education and employment discriminate against the country’s white majority.
Democratic presidents, including Biden, have historically rescinded the Mexico City policy upon taking office.
Critics have long dubbed the rule the “global gag rule” for prohibiting discussions about abortion.
