Latest news with #US-purchased
CNN
2 days ago
- Health
- CNN
US to burn $9.7 million worth of USAID-purchased contraceptives rather than deliver them to women overseas
The Trump administration is set to destroy $9.7 million worth of US-purchased contraceptives rather than deliver them to women overseas, following the dismantling of foreign assistance programs carried out by the US Agency for International Development, or USAID. The 'preliminary decision' to destroy the USAID-procured birth control was confirmed by a State Department spokesperson, who said the cost of incinerating them would be $167,000. The contraceptives have been housed in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium. The Belgian foreign ministry said it was engaged in diplomatic talks with the US embassy to work to find alternative solutions for the supplies. Asked about whether the contraceptives will definitely be destroyed, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Tuesday that it is a 'situation that changes each day.' 'We recognize the issues, but we also, of course, are committed to policy that Americans care about,' she said at a briefing. The contraceptives are mostly long-lasting types of birth control, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and injectables, a US congressional aide told CNN. It is not clear exactly when the supplies will be destroyed, according to the aide. 'They have to double incinerate the products because they contain high levels of hormones and they don't want to risk leaking the byproducts out in the environment, which likely adds to the cost,' the congressional aide said. 'The Trump administration is quite literally burning taxpayer money.' A list of the supplies, shared with CNN by another source with knowledge of the warehouse stock, shows that the contraceptives include copper IUDs, rod implants, birth control injections, and levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets. Some have USAID branding but the majority do not, according to the source's list. Most of the products expire in 2028 or 2029, with the earliest expiration date among the products in April 2027, according to the list detailing the nearly 5 million items. The US State Department spokesperson referred to the contraceptives to be destroyed as 'certain abortifacient birth control commodities from terminated Biden-era USAID contracts.' There is controversy about whether to describe certain contraceptives as abortifacient, or causing abortion, due to the debate over whether life begins at the moment an egg is fertilized or at a later stage. Some birth control methods, including IUDs, may work by preventing implantation of a fertilized egg. However, IUDs primarily work by suppressing the release of eggs, or by preventing sperm from reaching an egg. 'Only a limited number of commodities have been approved for disposal. No HIV medications or condoms are being destroyed,' the spokesperson added. 'USAID avoided an additional $34.1 million in taxpayer costs by negotiating no-cost cancellations of pending orders placed under the Biden Administration.' The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) told CNN that there is 'no such thing as an abortifacient contraceptive.' 'By definition, contraceptives prevent pregnancy – not end a pregnancy. IUDs and other forms of birth control do not cause abortion, and any suggestion otherwise is misinformation,' ACOG said on Tuesday. Responding to media reports that the contraceptives were set to be transferred to a French medical waste facility to be destroyed by the end of July, a diplomatic source in France told CNN that the contraceptives were being handled by private entities and they had 'no information concerning any transfers,' as of Thursday last week. 'We firmly support the Belgian authorities' commitment to find a solution in order to prevent the destruction of these contraceptives, so that they may reach women and men around the world who need them and are waiting for them,' the diplomatic source added. 'Access to quality sexual and reproductive health services and products is both a human rights and a public health issue.' US Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) sent a staff member to the warehouse in Belgium as part of her effort to introduce legislation prohibiting 'the destruction of any such commodities unless all efforts to sell or donate them have been exhausted.' The staffer also found that the earliest expiration date for the contraceptives was 2027, with some of the supplies not expiring until 2031, meaning they could still be used for years to come. 'At a moment when the Trump administration has made devastating cuts to foreign assistance it is disappointing that the State Department would sign off on spending money to actually destroy paid-for commodities that would save lives and are waiting to be deployed,' Shaheen said in a statement. '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.' Belgian foreign ministry spokeswoman Florinda Baleci told CNN the country was 'exploring all possible avenues to prevent the destruction of these stocks, including their temporary relocation.' An organization called MSI Reproductive Choices said it and other funding partners had offered to pay for the shipping and repackaging of the USAID-branded supplies, but that the US government turned down the offer. 'We were not given a reason for why this offer was not accepted, but it became clear in conversations that it wouldn't be and that our efforts would be better spent finding alternative solutions to the contraception supplies gap,' said Grace Dunne, a spokeswoman for MSI, which works in 36 countries to provide reproductive healthcare, including abortion services, contraception and maternity care. In response to questions about the offer from CNN, the State Department highlighted the so-called 'Mexico City policy,' which 'prohibits providing certain assistance – directly or indirectly – to foreign nongovernmental organizations that perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning.' That policy, which opponents call the 'global gag rule,' prevents non-governmental organizations that provide abortions, give counseling about abortions or advocate for safe access to abortion from receiving US funding. The planned destruction of the contraceptives has sparked an outcry from other organizations, like Doctors Without Border (MSF), which raised concerns about contraceptive shortages in nations that were once reliant on supplies donated by USAID. 'In the communities served by MSF – whether impacted by conflict, disease outbreaks, natural and human-made disasters, or exclusion from health care – access to contraceptives is already constrained,' the organization said in a statement. 'Contexts that previously relied upon USAID funded contraceptive supplies are at a heightened risk of supply chain disruptions and stockouts.' 'MSF has seen firsthand the positive health benefits when women and girls can freely make their own health decisions by choosing to prevent or delay pregnancy – and the dangerous consequences when they cannot,' the chief executive of MSF USA, Avril Benoît, added. MSF also cited reports saying that more USAID-branded contraceptives are being housed in a warehouse in the United Arab Emirates, but the organization said the US government's plan for those supplies is unknown. A State Department spokesperson did not address a question about contraceptives warehoused in the UAE. CNN has reached out to the UAE government for comment. At the beginning of July, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the end of USAID, saying 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 seen thousands of foreign assistance programs slashed, including many that focused on lifesaving work. A study published earlier this month by a leading medical journal, The Lancet, estimated that the USAID funding cuts could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030. USAID funding was most likely to reduce mortality related to HIV/AIDS, followed by malaria, according to the study. This story has been updated with additional developments.
CNN
3 days ago
- Health
- CNN
US to burn $9.7 million worth of USAID-purchased contraceptives rather than deliver them to women overseas
The Trump administration is set to destroy $9.7 million worth of US-purchased contraceptives rather than deliver them to women overseas, following the dismantling of foreign assistance programs carried out by the US Agency for International Development, or USAID. The 'preliminary decision' to destroy the USAID-procured birth control was confirmed by a State Department spokesperson, who said the cost of incinerating them would be $167,000. The contraceptives have been housed in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium. The Belgian foreign ministry said it was engaged in diplomatic talks with the US embassy to work to find alternative solutions for the supplies. The contraceptives are mostly long-lasting types of birth control, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and injectables, a US congressional aide told CNN. It is not clear exactly when the supplies will be destroyed, according to the aide. 'They have to double incinerate the products because they contain high levels of hormones and they don't want to risk leaking the byproducts out in the environment, which likely adds to the cost,' the congressional aide said. 'The Trump administration is quite literally burning taxpayer money.' A list of the supplies, shared with CNN by another source with knowledge of the warehouse stock, shows that the contraceptives include copper IUDs, rod implants, birth control injections, and levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets. Some have USAID branding but the majority do not, according to the source's list. Most of the products expire in 2028 or 2029, with the earliest expiration date among the products in April 2027, according to the list detailing the nearly 5 million items. The US State Department spokesperson referred to the contraceptives to be destroyed as 'certain abortifacient birth control commodities from terminated Biden-era USAID contracts.' There is controversy about whether to describe certain contraceptives as abortifacient, or causing abortion, due to the debate over whether life begins at the moment an egg is fertilized or at a later stage. Some birth control methods, including IUDs, may work by preventing implantation of a fertilized egg. However, IUDs primarily work by suppressing the release of eggs, or by preventing sperm from reaching an egg. CNN has approached the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for comment. 'Only a limited number of commodities have been approved for disposal. No HIV medications or condoms are being destroyed,' the spokesperson added. 'USAID avoided an additional $34.1 million in taxpayer costs by negotiating no-cost cancellations of pending orders placed under the Biden Administration.' Responding to media reports that the contraceptives were set to be transferred to a French medical waste facility to be destroyed by the end of July, a diplomatic source in France told CNN that the contraceptives were being handled by private entities and they had 'no information concerning any transfers,' as of Thursday last week. 'We firmly support the Belgian authorities' commitment to find a solution in order to prevent the destruction of these contraceptives, so that they may reach women and men around the world who need them and are waiting for them,' the diplomatic source added. 'Access to quality sexual and reproductive health services and products is both a human rights and a public health issue.' US Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) sent a staff member to the warehouse in Belgium as part of her effort to introduce legislation prohibiting 'the destruction of any such commodities unless all efforts to sell or donate them have been exhausted.' The staffer also found that the earliest expiration date for the contraceptives was 2027, with some of the supplies not expiring until 2031, meaning they could still be used for years to come. 'At a moment when the Trump administration has made devastating cuts to foreign assistance it is disappointing that the State Department would sign off on spending money to actually destroy paid-for commodities that would save lives and are waiting to be deployed,' Shaheen said in a statement. '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.' Belgian foreign ministry spokeswoman Florinda Baleci told CNN the country was 'exploring all possible avenues to prevent the destruction of these stocks, including their temporary relocation.' An organization called MSI Reproductive Choices said it and other funding partners had offered to pay for the shipping and repackaging of the USAID-branded supplies, but that the US government turned down the offer. 'We were not given a reason for why this offer was not accepted, but it became clear in conversations that it wouldn't be and that our efforts would be better spent finding alternative solutions to the contraception supplies gap,' said Grace Dunne, a spokeswoman for MSI, which works in 36 countries to provide reproductive healthcare, including abortion services, contraception and maternity care. In response to questions about the offer from CNN, the State Department highlighted the so-called 'Mexico City policy,' which 'prohibits providing certain assistance – directly or indirectly – to foreign nongovernmental organizations that perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning.' That policy, which opponents call the 'global gag rule,' prevents non-governmental organizations that provide abortions, give counseling about abortions or advocate for safe access to abortion from receiving US funding. The planned destruction of the contraceptives has sparked an outcry from other organizations, like Doctors Without Border (MSF), which raised concerns about contraceptive shortages in nations that were once reliant on supplies donated by USAID. 'In the communities served by MSF – whether impacted by conflict, disease outbreaks, natural and human-made disasters, or exclusion from health care – access to contraceptives is already constrained,' the organization said in a statement. 'Contexts that previously relied upon USAID funded contraceptive supplies are at a heightened risk of supply chain disruptions and stockouts.' 'MSF has seen firsthand the positive health benefits when women and girls can freely make their own health decisions by choosing to prevent or delay pregnancy – and the dangerous consequences when they cannot,' the chief executive of MSF USA, Avril Benoît, added. MSF also cited reports saying that more USAID-branded contraceptives are being housed in a warehouse in the United Arab Emirates, but the organization said the US government's plan for those supplies is unknown. A State Department spokesperson did not address a question about contraceptives warehoused in the UAE. CNN has reached out to the UAE government for comment. At the beginning of July, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the end of USAID, saying 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 seen thousands of foreign assistance programs slashed, including many that focused on lifesaving work. A study published earlier this month by a leading medical journal, The Lancet, estimated that the USAID funding cuts could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030. USAID funding was most likely to reduce mortality related to HIV/AIDS, followed by malaria, according to the study.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukrainian lawmaker tells BI that Trump has taken away one of the 'most important things' Kyiv got from the US and left it at risk
The US paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine and cut its access to satellite imagery this week. A Ukrainian lawmaker told BI that it will leave Kyiv dangerously vulnerable to Russian air attacks. The moves follow the Trump administration's decision to pause military aid to Ukraine. KYIV, Ukraine — President Donald Trump's decision to sever critical assistance this week hurts Ukraine's ability to see the battlefield clearly, leaving it in the dark on larger Russian troop movements and vulnerable to bombardment. The US pause on intelligence sharing and restrictions on Ukraine's access to crucial satellite imagery is expected to seriously impact the country's ability to defend against Russian missile attacks, a Ukrainian lawmaker told Business Insider in Kyiv on Friday. Serhiy Rakhmanin, a member of Ukraine's parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence, said that this decision will also impact Kyiv's ability to monitor Russian troop and equipment movement in the rear. Being able to see shifts in the battle lines and buildups is crucial to mounting a proper defense. Intel and satellite imagery also enable deep offensive strikes. US officials confirmed earlier in the week that Washington had stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv. The move followed Trump's decision to pause the flow of military aid to the war-torn country after a deeply contentious Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Then, on Friday, the Trump administration suspended access to satellite imagery by Ukrainian accounts. Maxar, a leading US satellite imaging company that provides services to Kyiv, said that it was affected by the move. Weapons get the most attention, but intel is vital. "Intelligence is one of the most important things that Ukraine has received from the United States," said Rakhmanin, who spoke to BI through a translator. He added that "the most sensitive issue" for Kyiv is the ban on using satellite data. "This creates problems, particularly in obtaining information about missile attacks. It significantly weakens the capabilities of the air defense system," Rakhmanin said. "The United States has provided information obtained from satellites, including Maxar data." Maxar is contracted with the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery (GEGD) system, a major portal that can share access to US-purchased commercial satellite imagery with allies and partners. The company said that the American government had temporarily suspended Ukrainian accounts in GEGD. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which is part of the Department of Defense, confirmed the move and said that it acted "in accordance" with the Trump administration's orders. Access to satellite imagery is important for Ukraine, as it allows the country to plan strikes, track Russian military activities, and assess damage to infrastructure. It also gives the world unprecedented visual access to the three-year-long conflict. The full extent of the US pause to intelligence sharing and military aid is unclear, but Ukrainian lawmakers and officials like Rakhmanin are hopeful that Kyiv's booming defense industry and European countries could help to fill some of the gaps in both spaces. Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told BI earlier this week that the US aid freeze could most crucially affect his country's air defenses. Insufficient interceptor missiles, coupled with a limit on Kyiv's ability to properly collect information about air attacks, could be a severe issue in defending cities from Russia. "The restriction on intelligence is particularly problematic in countering missile attacks, monitoring the Black and Azov seas, and tracking troop and equipment movements deep within Russian territory," Rakhmanin said. The Trump administration's approach to the war in Ukraine has so far been drastically different from that of the Biden administration, which pledged more than $65 billion in security assistance after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Trump officials have expressed skepticism about continued US support for Ukraine, with the president pushing for a swift end to the war, even if it's a poor deal for Kyiv. At the end of February, tensions boiled over after Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy at the White House over peace talks with Russia on unfavorable terms. The US then abruptly moved to pressure Kyiv by pausing military aid and intelligence sharing. Conflict experts at the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, warned on Friday that Moscow will likely take advantage of Trump's decision and intensify its strike campaign against Kyiv. Officials said on Saturday that Russian attacks killed at least 20 people overnight. "For front-line and near-front-line operations, we can still manage without US support," Rakhmanin said, "but for more strategic efforts, their role remains crucial." Read the original article on Business Insider
The Independent
03-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
I was a British Army captain – what Starmer is offering Ukraine is a multifaceted masterstroke
Events in the Oval Office have made a European force an inevitability. The coalition of the willing is the first step in renewed European consensus. While America's technological edge cannot be replaced overnight, boosting Ukrainian supplies is a first step in preventing further advances by an emboldened Russia. Europe is realising very late that we are far too reliant on America for security, their leadership, intelligence, data and high-specification weaponry. If access to US-purchased kit can be switched off on Trump's say-so, then we have a problem. The unpredictability of Trump and future MAGA successors means it is time to start planning for more integrated European military cooperation that boosts our shared economies. The UK's SDSR (Strategic Defence and Security Review) this year must address this. Much has been made of the US backstop to peace in Ukraine, the big issue is the significance of American air power and defence. Russia is severely restricted in its ability to deploy planes, drones, helicopters and logistics whilst it is in place. That matters both now and in the event of a US-guaranteed peace. Starmer continues the dialogue with Trump, a diplomatic feat not to be underestimated. The UK's announcement of a £1.6bn contract going to Belfast for 5000 Lightweight Multi Role Missiles (LMMs) promised by the UK yesterday, is also a multifaceted masterstroke: UK investment into Northern Ireland will create work with Thales – a French-owned defence manufacturer with a factory in Belfast. LMM is a hybrid anti-armour and anti-air missile that can be shoulder, boat, helicopter and static mounted. At 3kgs it can lack the full weight to consistently defeat Main Battle Tanks such as the T80, but you would not want to be a Russian pilot flying near one. Europe cannot magic up the power of the CIA, Silicon Valley and the American Military Industrial Complex overnight. In many ways, we should not. The US spends far too much on defence, but we can use defence to bolster other industries and technological development with multipurpose applications – such as drones, communications, data and rockets. Russia now has 700,000 troops in Ukraine, many more than at the initial stage of invasion. They have considerably regrouped and are now rolling out the conveyor line, the Kiel Institute believe they have produced around 1,550 new tanks (likely T80s) and 5,700 armoured vehicles in 2024, an increase of 220 per cent and 150 per cent respectively compared to 2022. The LMM can go some way in maintaining Ukrainian air defence, but it is not on a par with the combined effect of US-made F35 fighter planes, Patriot Missile air defence and ACTAMS long-range missiles, to name a few resources – hich is why US involvement is so important. We must prepare for the worst with Nato. The USA may withdraw. Europe should seek to salvage what it can from the institution across Europe and retain the membership of nations like Canada and Australia. Whilst Europe has operated a number of operations over the past two decades, creating a Euro Army from scratch without Nato's leadership capability would be an enormous task. Maintaining diplomacy with the USA and not severing military cooperation should be a governing principle and it seems to align with Starmer's current actions. Many UK and US veterans are shocked by the attitude of many MAGA supporters, claiming we have done nothing to support Nato. Remembering the lives sacrificed to the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns, this strikes a nerve. We must remember that what Trump wants above everything is to look good. If that can be provided by a Europe-led peace that he can take credit for with his base, so be it. Starmer's diplomacy over the past 72 hours has been excellent. It remains uncertain if the US can be brought to guarantee a European-initiated peace, but the future of European Defence and Security has momentarily shifted away from the USA.
