Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump's Abortion 'Gag Rule' Will Block $8.8B In Aid To Fight Malaria, AIDS And Other Diseases
The New York Times: Trump To Expand Funding Ban Tied To Abortion Overseas
The Trump administration said on Monday it would vastly expand the so-called global gag rule that withholds American aid from health organizations worldwide that provide or even discuss abortion in family planning. The new policy could disrupt hundreds of clinics in Africa and around the world that fight AIDS and malaria. It affects about $8.8 billion in global health funding, up from about $600 million during the administration of President George W. Bush. (Harris and Sengupta, 5/15)
The Washington Post: Trump Expansion Of Abortion ‘Gag Rule’ Will Restrict $8.8 Billion In U.S. Aid
Senior administration officials confirmed Monday that Trump’s version will impact $8.8 billion for programs, including those related to AIDS, malaria and child health. About $6 billion of that supports programs for HIV/AIDS services, primarily in Africa, as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief established in 2003. Another program that could be hit hard is the President’s Malaria Initiative, started under George W. Bush and expanded under Barack Obama. Defense Department grants related to global health security will also be impacted. The new policy, which is being called “Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance,” affects any organization deemed to promote abortion “as a method of family planning” through abortion counseling, referrals, lobbying or public information campaigns. Trump has said taxpayer dollars should not be used for this purpose. (Cha and Morello, 5/15)
The Wall Street Journal: Health Sector Prepares For Antiabortion Policy’s Impact On HIV/AIDS Fight
How the new policy will affect the U.S. war on HIV/AIDS overseas will depend in part on which foreign nongovernmental organizations sign the new clause to receive PEPFAR funding, a senior State Department official said. The official said that the detailed data PEPFAR regularly collects on the use of its funding would be watched closely for signs that its reach is either being restricted or expanding. “Secretary [Rex] Tillerson wanted to assure that we are carefully following implementation to be able to see if there is an unforeseen impact on our delivery of services,” the senior State Department official said. “These are lifesaving service-delivery programs that need to be performing at the highest level.” (McKay, 5/16)
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Anti-Abortion Groups Praise New Trump Policy Further Restricting Foreign Aid On Abortion Grounds
Anti-abortion groups praised a Trump administration policy announced Monday that will vastly expand abortion-related foreign aid restrictions by blocking money from more organizations. Past implementations of the Mexico City policy affected $500 to $600 million in yearly funds administered by the State Department and U.S Agency for International Development (USAID). The State Department's new "Promoting Life in Global Health Assistance" policy will affect $8.8 billion administered by all federal departments or agencies. (Eaton, 5/15)
