Washington, D.C.- Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration's expansion of the global gag rule. The administration's new policy prohibits recipients of U.S. foreign assistance from using their own private resources to engage in activities that promote comprehensive reproductive rights and fight gender inequality, racial prejudice, and discrimination against the LGBTQI+ community.

"Today's sweeping expansion of the global gag rule is a massive weaponization of U.S. foreign assistance, further exposing the Trump administration's blatant disregard for free speech, equal rights, and human dignity. In addition to being an affront to our Constitutional values, this policy actively undermines the goal of U.S. foreign assistance to protect our national security by improving lives, eradicating poverty, and promoting freedom around the globe.

"By attempting to silence partners and restrict their private activities as a condition of accepting U.S. funding, the Trump administration is offering a cruel ultimatum that could require abandoning their principles and the communities they serve. The consequences will be real and potentially deadly, as organizations capable of providing timely, critical assistance to those in need would be unable to save lives if their views do not conform with the Trump administration's. Previous expansions of the global gag rule in the health sector resulted in service delays, gaps in the provision of critical health services, and diminished U.S. government credibility.

"Expanding the global gag rule does not put America first. It does not make America safer, stronger, or more prosperous. Nor does it result in any benefits for everyday citizens, at home or abroad. Instead, the Trump administration is setting America back, undermining the United States' global reputation as a champion of freedom, equal opportunity, and inclusion."