U.S. Broadens Foreign Aid Restrictions to Cover Gender and DEI Policies

The U.S. administration has announced a significant expansion of its long‑standing foreign aid restrictions, extending the scope of the Mexico City Policy to bar funding for international and domestic organizations that support abortion services as well as those engaged in what officials describe as “gender ideology” and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

The updated rules, scheduled for formal release by the State Department, broaden the policy to cover more than $30 billion in U.S. foreign assistance. Previously applied mainly to foreign nongovernmental organizations involved in abortion‑related services, the policy will now also apply to U.S.-based aid groups and international organizations receiving American funding. According to administration officials, the expansion is intended to ensure that U.S. assistance does not subsidize abortion as a method of family planning or support activities the administration classifies under gender or DEI advocacy.

The Mexico City Policy, first introduced in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan, has historically shifted with changes in administration—rescinded by Democratic presidents and reinstated by Republican ones. It was most recently restored in January 2025. Critics, including human rights and public health organizations, argue that the broadened restrictions could limit access to essential health services worldwide by forcing aid groups to choose between U.S. funding and programs unrelated to abortion. Supporters contend that the policy prevents taxpayer dollars from indirectly supporting activities they oppose.

The expansion coincides with the anniversary of the former Roe v. Wade ruling and the annual March for Life demonstration, underscoring the administration’s broader policy direction on reproductive and gender‑related issues. The full impact of the changes remains uncertain, particularly for humanitarian and development organizations that rely heavily on U.S. assistance.