The Trump administration is set to destroy $9.7 million worth of US-purchased contraceptives, citing the dismantling of USAID foreign assistance programs. These supplies, including IUDs and injectables, have been stored in a Belgian warehouse, with incineration costs estimated at $167,000.

The decision has sparked controversy, especially given that most products don't expire until 2027-2029. While the State Department referred to them as "certain abortifacient birth control commodities from terminated Biden-era USAID contracts," medical experts, including ACOG, refute the term "abortifacient contraceptive."

The Belgian foreign ministry is seeking alternatives to destruction, and an offer from MSI Reproductive Choices to cover shipping and repackaging was rejected, reportedly due to the "Mexico City policy." Senator Jeanne Shaheen is working on legislation to prevent the destruction, highlighting the urgent global need for these supplies. Humanitarian groups like Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warn of severe contraceptive shortages in vulnerable regions. This action follows the broader restructuring of US foreign aid under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with The Lancet estimating significant mortality increases from USAID funding cuts. The story is from CNN.