US-funded contraceptives being burned in France: Birth control pills, implants worth $10 million to be destroyed; Trump rejects offer to give supply to poor nations
Nearly $10 million worth of US-funded contraceptives intended for women in developing countries will be destroyed in France.
This comes after the US government rejected multiple offers to repurpose the unused stockpile.
Supplies left unused after Trump's foreign aid freeze
The contraceptives, including intrauterine devices (IUDs), implants and pills, have been sitting unused in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium, for months. This followed US President Donald Trump's decision in January to halt foreign aid programmes and shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The decision left large quantities of reproductive health supplies without a destination.
Several aid groups and UN agencies reportedly offered to buy or take the supplies to help women in poorer countries.
However, the US government turned down these requests, and the contraceptives will now be incinerated at a medical waste facility in France. The destruction will cost American taxpayers an estimated $160,000, reports news agency Reuters.
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ccording to an internal stock list seen by Reuters, the unused contraceptives have expiry dates between April 2027 and September 2031, meaning they were not close to expiry.
Offers to repurpose rejected by Washington
The united nations population fund (UNFPA) and other international organisations reportedly tried to purchase or redirect the stockpile, but Washington refused. Sarah Shaw, an advocacy director at MSI Reproductive Choices, said her group offered to repack and ship the contraceptives. But the offer was declined.
'We were told that the US government would only sell the supplies at full market value,' Shaw was quoted as saying to Reuters.
'This is clearly not about saving money. It feels more like an ideological assault on reproductive rights.'
She added that the decision could increase the number of unsafe abortions in sub-Saharan Africa, where USAID supplies are a major source of contraceptives.
Belgium confirms talks with US, no outcome
Belgium's foreign ministry confirmed it had been in talks with the US to find a solution but no agreement was reached. 'Despite these efforts, and with full respect for our partners, no viable alternative could be secured,' a spokesperson was quoted as saying to Reuters.
'Belgium continues to actively seek solutions to avoid this regrettable outcome.'
The ministry also said that sexual and reproductive health 'must not be subject to ideological constraints'.
A source said Washington was worried the contraceptives might reach organisations linked to abortion services, which would violate funding rules introduced during Trump's presidency.
The USAID logo on the supplies made the US government even more unwilling to allow redistribution.
Lawmakers step in too late
Some US lawmakers have introduced bills this month to prevent the incineration of the supplies. However, aid groups say the legislation may not be passed in time.
An internal memo from USAID in April acknowledged the situation and recommended transferring the supplies 'immediately to another entity to prevent waste or additional costs.' That advice was never acted upon.
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