
President Trump’s reaffirmation of the Hyde Amendment aims to stop federal funding for elective abortions, marking a significant policy shift.
Quick Takes
- President Trump reinstated Mexico City Policy to halt federal and foreign fund use for abortions.
- The executive order enforces Hyde Amendment, preventing U.S. taxpayer money from funding elective abortions.
- The policies rescind Biden-era efforts to expand abortion access.
- The Office of Management and Budget will oversee compliance with this mandate.
Reinstating Established Policies
President Trump signed executive actions to prevent taxpayer money from funding abortions, both domestically and overseas. The order enforces the Hyde Amendment, reflecting a policy that American taxpayers should not fund elective abortions. The presidential memorandum also reinstated the Mexico City Policy, halting federal funding for groups financing abortions abroad. Oversight and implementation fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of Management and Budget. The directive avoids creating new legal rights or privileges.
The Hyde Amendment has been a legislative fixture for nearly five decades, annually reaffirmed by Congress to prevent federal funding for elective abortions. By reinstating long-standing policies, the administration underscores a commitment to upholding legal structures. The recent actions rescind Biden-era efforts that sought to expand abortion access following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade.
A Global Impact
The Mexico City Policy, also known as the “global gag rule,” restricts U.S. funding for organizations involved in abortion services overseas. The policy has been alternately enforced by Republican presidents and rescinded by Democrats over the past 40 years. Advocates criticize the policy, arguing it impacts global abortion availability and blocks aid for other health services, affecting reproductive and maternal health in developing nations.
“With this action the president is getting American taxpayers out of the abortion business and restoring sanity to the federal government,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
The Secretary of State and Health and Human Services are tasked with ensuring U.S. taxpayer dollars do not fund coercive abortion or sterilization programs. Implementation will adhere to existing legal structures, ensuring the directive aligns with applicable laws. Additionally, federal resources will not fund organizations supporting reproductive health practices that contradict this policy.
𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.
On 1/24/25, Trump signed an executive order to enforce the Hyde Amendment. This amendment “refers to annual funding restrictions that Congress has regularly included in the annual appropriations… pic.twitter.com/a37uo3fbuu
— Anna Matson (@AnnaRMatson) January 26, 2025
Domestic Changes and Legal Compliance
Nationally, enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act will be limited. The Justice Department will focus on severe cases of obstruction, allowing state or local authorities to handle enforcement. President Trump pardoned certain anti-abortion activists, directing federal prosecutors to reduce FACE Act enforcement.
“A significant majority of Americans oppose being forced to support abortion through their tax dollars. I am grateful for the strengthening of policies that protect us from being compelled to participate in a culture of death, and that help us to restore a culture of life at home and abroad,” said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas.
These actions signal an emphasis on compliance with legislative mandates. Federal statutes protecting emergency medical care for pregnant women under EMTALA and personal health information under HIPAA remain intact. The order highlights existing legal frameworks without aiming to grant new enforceable rights. Instead, it focuses on aligning actions with available appropriations and existing laws.