Peter Welch: “on September 11, 2025, the spokeswoman for the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, confirmed to the New…”

“on September 11, 2025, the spokeswoman for the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, confirmed to the New York Times that $9.7 million worth of contraceptives being stored in a warehouse in Belgium had been destroyed at the direction of the Trump administration. These contraceptives were intended for people in poor countries with high rates of morbidity and mortality for pregnant women, infants, and children. Just 1 day later, the spokeswoman rescinded her previous statement, claiming that there had been a ``miscommunication'' and that the contraceptives in question had not yet been incinerated. This was confirmed by Belgian officials who visited the warehouse where the materials were being stored. Although Belgium prohibits the destruction of reusable medical devices, aid workers worry that the Trump administration will run down the clock until these contraceptives expire. Most of the products expire in 2028 or 2029, with some expiring as early as April 2027. Destination countries often have rules for importing medical supplies based on remaining shelf life. The administration may exploit these rules to stop their distribution. Destroying these contraceptives would have cost American taxpayers an estimated $167,000, on top of the $9.7 million already spent to purchase them.”