Flashback: Biden admin repeatedly used USAID to push abortion in Africa

President Donald Trump’s administration is under scrutiny this week after collaborating with billionaire Elon Musk to close down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which Musk referred to as a “viper’s nest” of mismanaged funding. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Musk, worked with the Trump administration to shut down USAID on Monday. While the future of the agency remains uncertain, critics have accused USAID of using its funding to influence policy changes worldwide. During President Joe Biden’s administration, USAID was frequently used to promote abortion in Africa, a move that has sparked controversy.

President Biden wasted no time in reversing the Reagan-era “Mexico City Rule” just days after taking office in 2021, allowing U.S. funding to support pro-abortion organizations globally. This decision paved the way for USAID to allocate millions of dollars to organizations like Marie Stopes International (MSI), which heavily relied on USAID funding under the Obama administration. The lack of U.S. support during the Trump administration led to an $80 million funding gap for MSI, impacting countries like Madagascar, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

Critics, including GOP Rep. Chris Smith, have accused Biden of diverting funds from successful AIDS relief programs to advance an international abortion agenda. Smith highlighted organizations like Population Services International (PSI) and Village Reach, which received millions in funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Both organizations have a history of promoting abortion, with PSI providing abortion services in numerous countries and Village Reach advocating for changes in pro-life laws.

Furthermore, Biden’s administration faced allegations of pressuring Sierra Leone to adopt more lenient abortion policies in exchange for foreign assistance. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government entity, allegedly threatened to withhold hundreds of millions in funding unless Sierra Leone adjusted its abortion regulations. Despite denials from the MCC CEO, footage circulated on social media showing protests within Sierra Leone’s parliament as lawmakers debated legislation on abortion rights.

The controversy surrounding USAID’s closure and the funding allocation under Biden’s administration has drawn criticism from various quarters, with concerns over the politicization of foreign aid and the promotion of abortion on a global scale. The impact of these decisions on international relations and aid distribution remains a topic of debate as lawmakers and activists continue to monitor the situation closely.