Lankford, Budd Lead Bill to Codify Trump Admin Policy Eliminating US Foreign Aid Funding for Abortion, DEI & Gender Ideology

WASHINGTON, DC - US Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced the Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance Act today to codify the Trump Administration's Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance (PHFFA) Policy. This legislation would reinstate and expand Mexico City Policy by preventing US foreign assistance from being used to fund abortion or the promotion of abortion, discriminatory equity ideology, and radical gender ideology.

"American taxpayers should never be forced to fund abortions or radical gender ideology, whether in the United States or abroad," said Lankford. "I've consistently highlighted this kind of wasteful spending, and this bill codifies the Trump administration's Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance policy, so these protections endure beyond any single administration. US foreign assistance should reflect American values, not undermine them."

"US foreign assistance programs have been exploited as a loophole to promote far-left, radical ideology on the dime of American taxpayers for far too long. Future administrations must not be permitted to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on programs funding abortion, DEI, and gender ideology abroad. Our country's foreign assistance priorities should benefit our national security and strengthen our relationship with allies and partners-not advance a politically driven checklist of radical agenda items," said Budd.

US Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Roger Wicker (R-MS), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Jim Justice (R-WV) joined Lankford and Budd in introducing the legislation.

The Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance Act is supported by Susan B. Anthony (SBA) Pro-Life America, Concerned Women for America (CWA), National Right to Life, Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC), Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), Eagle Forum, and American Principles Project (APP).

You can read the full bill text HERE.

Background

Under PHFFA (Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance, Combating Gender Ideology in Foreign Assistance, Combating Discriminatory Equity Ideology in Foreign Assistance), the Trump Administration has already identified many US foreign assistance programs, paid for with taxpayer dollars, that are funding abortion, DEI, and gender ideology through global health, humanitarian, and development aid. These so-called "democracy promotion activities" undermine American values and weaken the perception of America abroad.

• Illegal use of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to pay for abortions in Mozambique.

• Funding for the New Alliance for Global Equality to advance "global LGBTQI+ awareness."

• Funding to promote "democracy" for LGBTQI+ populations in the Western Balkans.

• Funding to an organization in Guatemala to, among other things, "strengthen trans-led organizations to deliver gender-affirming health care."

The Promoting Human Flourishing in Foreign Assistance Act would close loopholes in previous iterations of the Mexico City Policy by:

• Expanding Covered Entities: Covers US NGOs, international organizations, and foreign governments and parastatals in addition to foreign NGOs.

• Expanding Covered Activities: Covers the promotion of DEI and gender ideology in addition to abortion and the promotion of abortion.

• Expanding Covered Foreign Assistance: Covers most non-military foreign assistance, not just global health assistance.

• Providing for a Waiver: Permits the Secretary of State to waive provisions of this bill in certain circumstances.

###