President Trump signed an order on Friday reinstating a policy requiring foreign nongovernmental agencies to certify that they do not provide or promote abortions when receiving U.S. federal family planning assistance funds.
This location is sometimes called Mexico City Policy Dubbed the "global gag rule" by opponents, it was first introduced more than 40 years ago. Every Republican president has put it into practice, and every democrat Repealed.
Eight years ago, the first Trump administration not only reinstated the ban but expanded it to include organizations that followed the rules but provided funding to those that did not.
Supporters say the policy, combined with laws banning U.S. funds from paying for abortions worldwide, has had a significant impact on the availability of abortions around the world and has also prevented aid funds from flowing to health organizations for other purposes. They say reproductive and maternal health care in developing countries is being harmed by cutting funding to groups that provide critical non-abortion-related services, including birth control, infant nutrition support and HIV/AIDS treatment.
Trump also signed an executive order on Friday calling for Hyde Amendmentwhich limits government funding for most abortions.
The amendment has become the law of the land in the country Biden administrationBut the Trump administration argued that "the previous administration ignored this established, common-sense policy."
The executive actions came on the same day as the annual March for Life in Washington. In a video address to the crowd, Trump vowed that in his second term, "we will take pride in families and lives again" and once again touted his nomination of three Supreme Court justices who have helped help families . Overturning Roe v. Wade.
“I’m proud to be a participant,” he said.
The crowd also cheered Trump's decision to pardon a group of anti-abortion activists convicted of abortion crimes. Blocking abortion clinic entrances.
His administration also moved on Friday to direct federal prosecutors to reduce enforcement of a federal law known as the FACE Act that allows for freer clinic entrances. The 1994 law makes it illegal to harm, threaten or interfere with people accessing or providing reproductive health services, or damage facilities where these services are provided.
A Justice Department memo obtained by CBS News instructs prosecutors to enforce the law only in "extraordinary circumstances" or when a death results in serious bodily injury or substantial property damage. Most other cases will be left to state or local law enforcement.
Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at the March for Life rally, saying the president had "fulfilled his promise to end Roe" by appointing hundreds of anti-abortion judges and pardoning anti-abortion activists he said were "unjustly imprisoned." .
"Our country faces the return of the most pro-family, most pro-life president of the United States in our lifetime," Vance said.