Chicago – January 24, 2026
For more than 40 years, U.S. policy on international funding related to abortion has shifted depending on which party holds the White House. Republican presidents have consistently restricted federal funds from supporting organizations that provide or advocate for abortion services, while Democratic administrations have traditionally reversed those restrictions.
On Friday, during the annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., Vice President JD Vance unveiled a significant expansion of the long-standing Mexico City policy, marking a new chapter in the administration’s approach to global funding.
Originally introduced in the 1980s, the Mexico City policy prohibited U.S. taxpayer money from going to foreign non-governmental organizations involved in abortion-related services or advocacy. Under the newly announced changes, the policy will now also deny funding to organizations that promote gender ideology and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
