Statement from Fòs Feminista on the official destruction of stockpiled USAID contraceptives

New York, NY — This week, a leaked memo written for a Trump administration official revealed that millions of dollars’ worth of contraceptives meant for women and girls in low-income countries have officially been rendered unusable after the Trump administration dismantled U.S.A.I.D. and pushed for the stockpiled supplies – including birth control pills, IUDs, and hormonal implants – to be destroyed rather than sent to their original destinations.

This news marks the latest blow in the Trump administration’s ongoing assault on global health and rights, which has already caused devastating ripple effects for women and girls in the Global South. The Administration’s America First Global Health Strategy has led to a total erasure of aid for maternal health, family planning, and sexual and reproductive health, and is exporting restrictive U.S. domestic policies into global health systems.

In response to the news that these contraceptives are no longer usable, Giselle Carino, CEO of Fòs Feminista, issued the following statement:

“In the face of the Trump administration’s mounting attacks against global health, we at Fòs Feminista remain committed to working alongside our partners through INNOVA Health Solutions, our social enterprise that makes it easier and less expensive for organizations on the ground to get access to contraception and other supplies. Together, we are aiming to strengthen more reliable, locally-driven supply chains that keep care within reach.”

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Fòs Feminista is an international feminist alliance centered around sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice for women, girls, and gender-diverse people. Together with more than 200 local organizations across the globe, we engage in healthcare, education, and advocacy to advance our agenda. This includes providing sexual and reproductive health services and implementing community-based strategies that make sexual and reproductive healthcare more accessible to women, girls, and others at the margins. We also engage young people with comprehensive sexuality education and provide care to survivors of gender-based violence. We stand alongside our partners in the streets, in the courts, and in other advocacy spaces as an unapologetically feminist voice, resisting injustice and advocating for gender equality and reproductive rights locally and globally.