U.S. Destroys aid stockpiles, defying compassionate values

Nearly $10 million worth of U.S.-funded contraceptives are being sent from Belgium to France to be incinerated, following a decision by the Trump administration to block their redistribution to countries in need. The stockpile includes contraceptive implants, pills, and intrauterine devices and has been stored for months in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium, after President Donald Trump froze U.S. foreign aid in January.

Despite offers from the United Nations and family planning organizations to buy or ship the supplies to low-income nations, the U.S. government opted for destruction, flying in the face of compassionate conservatism. The supplies, managed under terminated contracts with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), were considered part of a limited batch approved for disposal by the State Department. Though the supplies are not set to expire until between April 2027 and September 2031, the U.S. will now spend $167,000 to incinerate them in France.

The decision was made in line with the administration’s enforcement of the Mexico City policy, which prohibits U.S. funding for organizations that provide or promote access to abortion. The U.S. government expressed concern that it could not ensure the contraceptives would not end up with such groups, even if transferred through intermediaries like the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). In addition, the supplies bear USAID branding, and the administration did not want them rerouted to other destinations under that label.

Efforts by aid groups to take ownership of the supplies were rejected, even though some had offered to cover costs of repackaging, shipping, and import duties. The U.S. insisted on selling the goods at full market value, a condition that stalled negotiations. The UNFPA’s attempt to purchase the contraceptives outright also failed after discussions broke down due to limited response from U.S. officials.

In recent weeks, lawmakers introduced two bills to try to stop the destruction, but aid organizations reported that these efforts were unlikely to succeed in time. The Belgian government explored temporary relocation and alternative solutions with U.S. authorities but was unable to secure an agreement.

The entire stockpile will require dozens of truckloads to be removed from the warehouse in Geel, and the large-scale disposal process is expected to take at least two weeks. Though the supplies do not include condoms or HIV medications, their destruction represents a major loss to public health initiatives in low-resource regions that had long relied on USAID for contraception access.