US to Destroy $9.7M in Contraceptives Instead of Sending to Women Abroad

The Trump Administration's Plan to Destroy $9.7 Million in Contraceptives

The Trump administration is preparing to destroy $9.7 million worth of contraceptives purchased by the United States for distribution overseas, following the dismantling of foreign assistance programs previously managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This decision has raised concerns among various organizations and lawmakers who argue that the contraceptives could still be used to help women in need.

The preliminary plan to destroy these contraceptives was confirmed by a State Department spokesperson, who mentioned that the cost of incinerating them would be approximately $167,000. These items are currently stored in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium. The Belgian foreign ministry has been engaging in diplomatic discussions with the U.S. embassy to explore alternative solutions for the supplies.

When asked if the contraceptives would definitely be destroyed, the spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, stated that the situation is fluid and changes daily. “We recognize the issues, but we also, of course, are committed to policy that Americans care about,” she said during a briefing.

The contraceptives primarily consist of long-acting birth control methods such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and injectables. A U.S. congressional aide told DISCOVER TREND that the exact timeline for destruction is unclear. According to the aide, the products must be double incinerated due to their high hormone content, which adds to the overall cost. “The Trump administration is quite literally burning taxpayer money,” the aide noted.

A list of the supplies, shared with DISCOVER TREND by a source familiar with the warehouse stock, indicates that the contraceptives include copper IUDs, rod implants, birth control injections, and levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets. While some items bear USAID branding, most do not. Most of the products are set to expire between 2028 and 2029, with the earliest expiration date in April 2027. The list details nearly 5 million items in total.

The State Department referred to the contraceptives as “certain abortifacient birth control commodities from terminated Biden-era USAID contracts.” This description has sparked controversy, as there is debate over whether certain contraceptives should be labeled as abortifacients. Some birth control methods, like IUDs, may prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg, though they primarily work by suppressing egg release or blocking sperm.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has stated that “there is no such thing as an abortifacient contraceptive.” They emphasized that contraceptives prevent pregnancy, not end it. “IUDs and other forms of birth control do not cause abortion, and any suggestion otherwise is misinformation,” ACOG said.

There have been reports that the contraceptives were intended to be transferred to a French medical waste facility for destruction by the end of July. However, a diplomatic source in France told DISCOVER TREND that the contraceptives are being handled by private entities and that there is no information on any transfers. The source expressed support for the Belgian authorities’ efforts to find a solution that prevents the destruction of the contraceptives.

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) sent a staff member to the warehouse in Belgium as part of her effort to introduce legislation that would prohibit the destruction of such commodities unless all efforts to sell or donate them have been exhausted. The staffer found that the earliest expiration date for the contraceptives is 2027, with some supplies not expiring until 2031, meaning they could still be used for years.

“Food and family planning commodities are desperately needed in conflict-affected countries, like Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo where famine is taking hold,” Shaheen said in a statement.

Efforts to Prevent Destruction

The Belgian foreign ministry has been exploring all possible avenues to prevent the destruction of these stocks, including temporary relocation. An organization called MSI Reproductive Choices offered to pay for the shipping and repackaging of the USAID-branded supplies, but the U.S. government rejected the offer. MSI’s spokeswoman, Grace Dunne, stated that the reason for the rejection was not provided, but it became clear that the offer would not be accepted.

In response to questions about the offer, the State Department highlighted the Mexico City policy, which prohibits providing certain assistance to foreign nongovernmental organizations that perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning. This policy has been criticized as the “global gag rule” by opponents.

Organizations like Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have raised concerns about contraceptive shortages in nations that once relied on USAID supplies. MSF emphasized that access to contraceptives is critical in communities affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, and natural disasters. “Contexts that previously relied upon USAID-funded contraceptive supplies are at a heightened risk of supply chain disruptions and stockouts,” the organization said.

MSF also cited reports that more USAID-branded contraceptives are stored in a warehouse in the United Arab Emirates, though the U.S. government’s plans for those supplies remain unknown. The State Department did not address questions about the UAE warehouses, and DISCOVER TREND has reached out to the UAE government for comment.

At the beginning of July, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio celebrated the end of USAID, stating that future foreign assistance programs would align with administration policies and be administered by the State Department. The rapid dismantling of USAID, led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has resulted in the slashing of thousands of foreign assistance programs, many of which focused on lifesaving work.

A recent study published in The Lancet estimated that USAID funding cuts could lead to more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030. The study indicated that USAID funding was most likely to reduce mortality related to HIV/AIDS, followed by malaria.