In an alarming development, the Trump administration's halt of foreign aid has led to immediate and devastating consequences for women's health services around the world. Just three weeks into this funding freeze, a multitude of health agencies report that essential services for maternity, reproductive health, cancer treatment, and H.I.V. care are crumbling.
Elisha Dunn-Georgiou, president of the Global Health Council, expressed outrage over the abrupt withdrawal of funding, stating, “You can’t get treatment and you can’t get care because America has decided on a whim that you are not worthy.” This sentiment mirrors the dire situation affecting approximately 2.5 million women and girls who have been denied contraceptive care. Projections estimate this number could surge to 11.7 million by the conclusion of a 90-day review period mandated by the Trump administration.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio articulated the administration's stance, emphasizing an assessment of foreign aid programs to determine those that align with U.S. national interests. The U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.), a principal channel for aid distribution, has seen its operations severely curtailed as the remaining efforts transition to the State Department's oversight.
At a recent U.N. panel, officials from various health organizations, including the U.N. Population Fund and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, rallied to highlight the crisis, stressing the urgent need for action to reverse the negative impacts on women’s health care services globally. With decades of progress under threat, they are calling for a mobilization to protect and restore these vital health resources.
Elisha Dunn-Georgiou, president of the Global Health Council, expressed outrage over the abrupt withdrawal of funding, stating, “You can’t get treatment and you can’t get care because America has decided on a whim that you are not worthy.” This sentiment mirrors the dire situation affecting approximately 2.5 million women and girls who have been denied contraceptive care. Projections estimate this number could surge to 11.7 million by the conclusion of a 90-day review period mandated by the Trump administration.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio articulated the administration's stance, emphasizing an assessment of foreign aid programs to determine those that align with U.S. national interests. The U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.), a principal channel for aid distribution, has seen its operations severely curtailed as the remaining efforts transition to the State Department's oversight.
At a recent U.N. panel, officials from various health organizations, including the U.N. Population Fund and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, rallied to highlight the crisis, stressing the urgent need for action to reverse the negative impacts on women’s health care services globally. With decades of progress under threat, they are calling for a mobilization to protect and restore these vital health resources.
