The Mexico City Policy

This memorandum revokes the 2009 Obama-era memorandum that had rescinded the Mexico City Policy, and reinstates the 2001 Bush-era version. It directs the Secretary of State to expand the policy's restrictions to all global health assistance across departments and agencies, and to ensure no U.S. funds support organizations involved in coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization programs.

Federal Register Open PDF 82 FR 8495

Impact dates

Jan 23, 2009
Revoke Presidential Memorandum of January 23, 2009
Jan 22, 2001
Reinstate Presidential Memorandum of January 22, 2001

Key directives

Revoke Presidential Memorandum of January 23, 2009
Reinstate Presidential Memorandum of January 22, 2001
Implement plan to extend reinstated policy requirements to all global health assistance furnished by all departments or agencies
Ensure U.S. taxpayer dollars do not fund organizations or programs supporting or participating in management of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization programs

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Revocation of 2009 memorandum
Reinstatement of 2001 memorandum
Policy restrictions take effect on global health assistance

Near term (90d)

Implementation plan to extend requirements to all departments/agencies

Long term

Ongoing restriction of U.S. funding to organizations supporting or managing abortion-related services
Potential restructuring of global health aid delivery

Risks & tensions

Expansion beyond traditional scope: extends to 'all departments or agencies' and 'global health assistance' broadly, not just family planning
Vague implementation timeline: no explicit deadline for plan completion
Potential legal tension: 'to the extent allowable/permitted by law' qualifiers suggest anticipated legal or statutory constraints
Reinstates polarized policy that shifts with each administration change