In a jaw-dropping move, President Donald Trump’s administration is “literally burning taxpayer money” by incinerating nearly $10 million worth of U.S.-funded contraceptives – rather than deliver them to women in need around the world.
The supplies, purchased through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), are set to be burned, despite alternative solutions presented by organizations around the world.
In early July, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the official shutdown of USAID, announcing that all future foreign aid will now be run directly through the State Department and aligned with administration policies.
The dismantling, led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has already slashed thousands of international aid programs, including many that provided lifesaving medical care, food support, and disaster relief around the world.
Caught in the crosshairs of the cuts is $9.7 million worth of contraceptives – some USAID branded – that are currently stockpiled in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium. The facility is reportedly holding long-acting methods such as IUDs, implants, injectables, and hormone-based pills.
According to CNN, many of the unused contraceptives set for destruction remain viable for years, with some not expiring until 2031. Others are good through at least 2027, making the decision to incinerate them an even more staggering waste of taxpayer-funded medical supplies.
Trump administration to burn $10M taxpayer-funded birth control meant for foreign aid
Despite this, Donald Trump’s administration plans to burn nearly 5 million units, citing the termination of Biden-era global health contracts. The supplies set for destruction were originally intended for international reproductive health programs. Instead, they are now being labeled as “abortifacient birth control commodities” by the U.S. State Department, despite widespread medical consensus that contraceptives do not cause abortion.
“By definition, contraceptives prevent pregnancy – not end a pregnancy. IUDs and other forms of birth control do not cause abortion, and any suggestion otherwise is misinformation,” the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) said, per CNN.
