U.S. State Department Expands Mexico City Policy to Prohibit Abortion and DEI Programs in Foreign Assistance
The State Department is finalizing an expansion of the Mexico City Policy that will prohibit U.S. foreign assistance from supporting abortion and gender and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The policy, first introduced by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, requires recipient groups to certify that they will not promote abortion as a method of family planning to receive aid.
The new rules will extend the Mexico City Policy to cover all nonmilitary foreign assistance, totaling over $30 billion. Foreign NGOs and international organizations receiving U.S. assistance must certify that they do not promote abortion, gender ideology, discriminatory equity ideology, or engage in unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion-related discrimination.
U.S.-based NGOs operating overseas will also face similar certification requirements. The policy has been rescinded by Democratic presidents and reinstated by Republican presidents, with President Joe Biden revoking it in 2021 and President Trump reinstating it in 2025.
The Mexico City Policy, also known as the "global gag rule," has been a contentious issue, with opponents arguing that it restricts speech and advocacy overseas. The expected expansion of the policy coincides with the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., where Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to join pro-life advocates in championing the protection of the unborn.
President Trump has been a vocal supporter of the Mexico City Policy, emphasizing its role in protecting the unborn. The inclusion of gender and DEI ideology in the policy reflects the Trump administration's efforts to counter what it sees as the promotion of progressive social ideology through federal policy and funding.