Trump administration will incinerate $10 million worth of birth control for poor women

The Trump administration is literally torching nearly $10 million worth of birth control meant for women in countries where they cannot access or afford it.

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The stock of pills, implants, and IUDs has been sitting unused in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium, for the past three months. The supplies are now being sent to France to be incinerated, as first reported by Reuters, with the U.S. government spending $160,000 to burn $9.7 million in contraceptives.,

The Belgian foreign ministry told the outlet that it had "explored all possible options to prevent the destruction, including temporary relocation," but were unable to reach an agreement with Trump officials.

"Despite these efforts, and with full respect for our partners, no viable alternative could be secured. Nevertheless, Belgium continues to actively seek solutions to avoid this regrettable outcome," it said. "Sexual and reproductive health must not be subject to ideological constraints."

The Trump administration, aided by Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, dismantled USAID shortly after taking office. The office handled foreign aid programs, including those that fight HIV and other diseases, but the administration sought to prevent funding for "sexual reproductive health and reproductive rights" and "gender equality."

The closing of USAID also stopped payments to health care providers working with the President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) which provides HIV drugs and related services to poor countries around the world. PEPFAR was later exempted from the funding freeze by Congress.

The administration is destroying the birth control supplies despite offers from the United Nations and other nonprofits, such as MSI Reproductive Choices, to cover the cost. Associate Director of Advocacy at MSI Sarah Shaw said the group offered to pay shipping and import costs, but "the U.S. government would only sell the supplies at the full market value."

"This is clearly not about saving money. It feels more like an ideological assault on reproductive rights, and one that is already harming women," she said.