The United States has come under intense criticism following revelations that the Trump administration ordered the destruction of contraceptives worth an estimated $9.7 million.
The medical supplies, which were meant for women in some of the world’s poorest countries, were incinerated despite multiple offers from international NGOs and donor groups to purchase or accept them as donations.
According to a report published by The New York Times, the contraceptives — including birth control pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and hormonal implants — were originally procured by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) during the administration of former President Joe Biden.
They were intended to strengthen global family planning programmes, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where access to affordable reproductive health products remains limited.
However, the supplies were placed in limbo after President Donald Trump’s return to office in January 2025.
His administration, which has taken a hardline stance against abortion-related health programmes, dismantled USAID’s family planning arm and reinstated the so-called “Global Gag Rule” — a policy that prohibits US foreign aid from going to organisations that provide or even discuss abortion services.
A USAID spokeswoman confirmed the destruction of the contraceptives, stating that the decision was aligned with President Trump’s renewed commitment to “protecting the lives of unborn children all around the world.”
She described the supplies as “abortifacient birth control” — a claim that health experts argue is scientifically misleading since contraceptives are designed to prevent pregnancies rather than terminate them.
Critics say the move reflects a broader ideological battle rather than a rational health policy decision.
“Nobody doubts the importance of respecting life,” one European diplomat told AFP, “but what we are witnessing is needless waste of resources that could have saved millions of women from unsafe pregnancies and reduced maternal deaths.”
The revelation has drawn sharp criticism from governments, global health advocates, and human rights groups.
Belgium’s Foreign Minister, Maxime Prévot, condemned the move, saying:
“We continue through diplomatic channels to vigorously advocate against such waste. These contraceptives were meant for vulnerable populations, and destroying them is indefensible.”
Rights groups in France also expressed outrage after reports surfaced that the contraceptives were incinerated there by a company specialising in medical waste disposal.
French politicians, particularly from the left, urged their government to intervene and salvage the supplies before destruction. Unfortunately, their calls came too late.
Several prominent NGOs, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, reportedly made offers to buy or accept the contraceptives free of charge.
Internal documents cited by The New York Times show that such proposals were rejected, with officials pressing ahead with destruction at an additional cost of $167,000 in taxpayers’ money.
For health experts, the destruction is not only an economic loss but also a humanitarian crisis. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), nearly 218 million women in low- and middle-income countries already lack access to modern contraceptives.
This gap often leads to unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and preventable maternal deaths.
Dr. Amaka Nwosu, a reproductive health specialist based in Lagos, described the decision as a “devastating setback” for global health.
“Imagine how many clinics across sub-Saharan Africa could have benefitted from this supply.
We are talking about tools that prevent teenage pregnancies, reduce child mortality, and empower women economically. To destroy them is unconscionable,” she said.
Observers believe the move underscores the ideological shift in Washington’s foreign aid priorities under Trump’s second term.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has sought to dismantle several Biden-era health and climate initiatives.
His administration argues that taxpayer dollars should not support programmes indirectly linked to abortion, regardless of their broader public health impact.
Critics, however, say the policy is less about fiscal responsibility and more about appeasing a conservative political base.
By labelling contraceptives as “abortifacients,” analysts argue, the Trump administration is blurring the lines between family planning and abortion to justify controversial actions.
The fallout of this decision could reverberate across international partnerships.
Donor countries in Europe and humanitarian organisations that have long collaborated with USAID on global health initiatives are now re-evaluating their strategies.
Some NGOs warn that the move could weaken trust in US foreign aid commitments and create wider gaps in healthcare delivery for vulnerable populations.
Furthermore, the destruction of the contraceptives has sparked a larger debate on waste and accountability in international aid.
With millions of dollars’ worth of lifesaving supplies discarded, questions are being raised about whether ideological policies should override the pressing needs of poor communities.
Despite the backlash, there is little indication that the Trump administration will reverse course.
In fact, US officials insist they are prepared to adopt even stricter measures to ensure that aid programmes align with what they describe as “pro-life principles.”
Yet for advocates on the ground, the consequences of the decision are immediate and severe.
“This is not about politics; it’s about lives,” said Amina Yusuf, a youth advocate in Nigeria.
“Every day, young women in rural communities struggle to access basic reproductive health services.
Destroying these supplies means more unwanted pregnancies, more unsafe abortions, and more deaths that could have been prevented.”
As the world reacts, the controversy highlights the complex intersection of politics, health, and human rights in global development.
For now, what remains clear is that the $9.7 million worth of contraceptives — once seen as a lifeline for millions of women — is gone, leaving behind a trail of outrage, wasted resources, and unanswered questions.