The closure of USAID by the Trump administration in collaboration with Elon Musk has sparked debate, with critics accusing the Biden administration of using the agency to advance abortion access globally.
President Donald Trump 's administration faced scrutiny this week for collaborating with billionaire Elon Musk to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID ). Musk, who labeled USAID a 'viper's nest' of mismanaged funding, worked with the Trump administration to achieve this closure on Monday. While the agency's long-term fate remains unclear, lawmakers and activists have consistently accused USAID of utilizing funding to influence policy changes globally.
Under President Joe Biden's administration, the organization was frequently employed to advance abortion access in Africa, according to critics. Biden's actions soon after assuming office signaled a shift in U.S. foreign aid policy. He signed an executive order revoking the Reagan-era 'Mexico City Rule' on January 28, 2021. This rule, initially rescinded by President Barack Obama and then reinstated during Trump's first term, prohibited foreign aid from being directed to nongovernmental organizations that promoted or provided abortion services. 'These excessive conditions on foreign and development assistance undermine the United States’ efforts to advance gender equality globally by restricting our ability to support women’s health,' stated Biden at the time. This policy change cleared the way for USAID to channel millions in funding to organizations actively promoting abortion, such as Marie Stopes International (MSI). MSI claimed to rely on USAID for 17% of its total donor income during the Obama administration, stating that the lack of U.S. support during Trump's final three years created an $80-million 'funding gap,' most significantly impacting Madagascar, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., accused Biden in 2023 of 'hijacking' a successful AIDS relief program – PEPFAR – to advance an international abortion agenda. Smith's allegations focused on the allocation of $96.5 million to Population Services International (PSI) and $10.1 million to Village Reach under Biden, both groups known for their pro-abortion stances. Smith highlighted PSI's advocacy for abortion and efforts to repeal pro-life legislation, while alleging that Village Reach utilized PEPFAR funds to promote abortion in Malawi and lobby for changes in pro-life laws. The third group, Pathfinder International, received $5 million in PEPFAR funding from 2021 to 2023 and, according to Smith, actively lobbies to weaken or eliminate pro-life laws worldwide, publicly stating its commitment to expanding access to safe abortion
USAID Elon Musk Donald Trump Joe Biden Abortion Foreign Aid PEPFAR Millennium Challenge Corporation Sierra Leone
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