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Biden’s memorandum reversed the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy, more colloquially referred to as the Mexico City Policy or the “global gag rule.” The policy was first created by the Regan administration in 1984 and has been reenacted by Republicans, like Trump, and repealed by Democrats, like President Biden, since.
The Mexico City Policy banned the use of US government funds for nonprofits that “perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning.” A report from the US Government Accountability Office stated that in 2017 alone, various NGOs lost out on around $150m due to this policy. Non-profits from around the world found the impact of the Mexico City policy devastating as it often also impacted efforts to treat tuberculosis as well as HIV and AIDs. It also meant the more individuals had to get illegal, unsafe abortions that threatened their lives and their health.