Rather than reaching women abroad, the Trump administration is set to destroy $9.7 million worth of US-purchased contraceptives. Demolition of foreign support programs implemented by the US International Development Agency or USAID.
“Preliminary decision” to destroy USAID–The procured birth control was confirmed by a State Department spokesperson. He said the cost of incinerating them would be $167,000.
Contraceptives are housed in Ziel’s warehouse in Belgium. The Belgian Foreign Office said it is engaged in diplomatic consultations with the US Embassy to work to find alternative solutions for supplies.
Asked about whether birth control pills will undoubtedly be destroyed, State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce said Tuesday it was a “changeable situation every day.”
“We are aware of the problem, but of course we are committed to policies that Americans care about,” she said in the briefing.
A US Congress aide told CNN that contraceptives are mostly long-term types of contraception, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and injections. According to the aides, it is not clear when the consumables will be destroyed.
“They contain high levels of hormones and don’t want to risk leaking by-products in the environment, so they need to double-burn their products. “The Trump administration is literally burning taxpayer money.”
A list of supplies shared with CNN by another source with knowledge of warehouse inventory shows that contraceptives include copper IUD, rod implants, contraceptive injections, levonorzestrel and ethinylestradiol tablets. According to the source list, some users have USAID branding, but the majority do not.
Most products expire in 2028 or 2029, with the earliest date of the product in April 2027.
A US State Department spokesperson called the birth control pills “a specific abortion contraceptive commodity from a terminated Biden-era USAID contract.”
Whether a particular birth control pill is described as avortifascient or causes abortion is controversial due to debate over whether the egg is bloated or begins at a subsequent stage. Several contraceptive methods, including IUDs, may work by preventing implantation of fertilized eggs. However, IUDs work primarily by suppressing egg release or preventing sperm from reaching the egg.
“Only a limited number of products have been approved for disposal. No HIV drugs or condoms have been destroyed,” the spokesman added. “USAID avoided an additional $34.1 million taxpayer fees by negotiating a non-cost cancellation of a pending order made under the Biden administration.”
“There’s nothing like Avortipastic birth control pills,” an American obstetric gynecologist (ACOG) told CNN.
“Birth controls prevent pregnancy by definition – they don’t end pregnancy. IUDs and other contraceptions do not cause abortion, and otherwise the suggestion is misinformation,” the ACOG said Tuesday.
In response to media reports that contraceptives have been set to be moved to French medical waste facilities so that they will be destroyed by the end of July, French diplomatic sources told CNN that the contraceptives have been being processed by private groups and “no information on the transfer” as last Thursday.
“We will firmly support the Belgian authorities’ commitment to find solutions to prevent the destruction of these contraceptives, so that they can reach the women and men around the world who need them and are waiting for them,” the diplomatic source added. “Access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health services and products is both human rights and public health issues.”
US Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) dispatched staff As part of an effort to introduce legislation in Belgian warehouses that prohibit “destroying such goods unless all efforts to sell or donate have been exhausted.” Staff also found that the date for birth control pills expired is 2027, and some consumables did not expire until 2031. This means it could be used for years to come.
“It’s a shame the moment the Trump administration makes devastating cuts to foreign aid, the State Department signs off on actually spending money to save lives and destroy paid goods awaiting deployment,” Shaheen said in a statement. “In countries affected by conflict, such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where hunger is in place, food and family planning products are desperately needed.”
Florinda Barresi, a spokesman for the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told CNN “we are exploring all possible paths to prevent the destruction of these stocks, including temporary relocations.”
An organization called MSI Reproductive Choices said IT and other funding partners offered to pay for shipping and repackaging for the USAID brand supply, but the US government declined the offer.
“We were not given a reason for why this offer was not accepted, but the conversation revealed that it was not and that it was being put into our efforts to find alternative solutions to the birth control gap.
The State Department responded to questions about the offer from CNN, highlighting the so-called “Mexico City Policy.” This “prohibits prohibiting certain assistance to foreign non-governmental organizations that perform or actively promote abortion as a way of family planning.”
That policy, which opponents call the “global gag rule,” prevents non-governmental organizations providing abortion, providing counseling about abortion, or advocating for safe access to abortion from receiving US funds.
The planned destruction of birth control pills sparked protests from other organisations, such as Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
“Access to birth control pills is already limited in the communities provided by MSF, whether they are affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, natural and human disasters, or exclusion from health care,” the organization said in a statement. “The context that previously relied on contraceptive products with USAID funds has increased supply chain disruption and inventory risk.”
“MSF has seen firsthand the dangerous consequences of when and when women and girls can freely make their health decisions by choosing to prevent or delay pregnancy,” added Avril Benoît, chief executive of MSF USA.
MSF also cited reports that more USAID branded contraceptives are housed in UAE warehouses, but the organization said the US government’s plans for supplying these are unknown.
A State Department spokesperson did not address questions about contraceptives that were warehoused in the UAE. CNN contacted the UAE government for comment.
At the beginning of July, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the end of USAID, saying future foreign aid programs will be administered by the State Department in line with management policies. The rapid demolition of USAID, led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has cut thousands of foreign aid programs, including many people focused on life-saving work.
A study published earlier this month by the leading medical journal Lancet estimated that cuts in USAID funding could result in more than 14 million deaths by 2030. We estimated that USAID funding reduced HIV/AIDS-related mortality rates and that malaria would likely follow suit.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
