Trump Reinstates Global Gag Rule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
January 24, 2025 
CONTACT: [email protected] 

Today, President Trump reinstated the Global Gag Rule. Originally authored during the Reagan Administration, the Global Gag Rule prohibits international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that receive U.S. government funds from using their own private funds to provide abortions. The policy also prevents NGOs from lobbying their own government for a change in abortion laws, conducting public education campaigns about abortion, referring people to safe abortion providers, or even providing medically accurate counseling about abortion to their clients.

Statement from NAF President & CEO Brittany Fonteno

The Global Gag Rule is a harmful policy that stifles global support for abortion access, limits public health programs, and asserts control over people’s right to make decisions about their own bodies. While it is no surprise that President Trump reinstated the policy—just like he did in 2017—this action will endanger already vulnerable people by further curtailing their access to accurate information and safe reproductive health care services.

Reproductive health care is basic health care that everyone needs and deserves access to, regardless of where they live or how much money they have. This is the Trump administration’s next attack on abortion access, and it will not be the last. For nearly a decade now, Donald Trump has shown us just how dangerous he is for abortion access, and it is clear that over the next four years, the anti-abortion movement will take every opportunity to strip away our fundamental right to reproductive freedom—both here and abroad. The U.S. should be a leader in promoting women’s health and human rights around the world instead of using foreign aid as a tool to limit people’s access to health care. 

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NAF remains committed to helping as many people as possible access high-quality and affordable abortion care. Anyone in any state can call the National Abortion Hotline at 1-800-772-9100 to understand their options and get the assistance they need, whether that’s help finding a provider, arranging travel to another state, or funding for their care.