A Message from WHGI Director Dr. Philip Anglewicz in Response to Foreign Aid Halt
Over the past week, the new U.S. administration has issued sweeping policy changes to foreign aid, including a 90-day freeze on foreign assistance funding—effectively dismantling USAID and the global foreign aid infrastructure.
These changes will have devastating consequences. In the realm of family planning and reproductive health alone, the Guttmacher Institute estimates that during this freeze, 11.7 million women and girls will be denied services, resulting in 4.2 million unintended pregnancies and, tragically, 8,340 maternal deaths.
What is the purpose of these policy changes? In his remarks after being sworn in, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated: “Anything that makes us stronger, safer, or more prosperous will be our mission, our job across the world.”
We share these goals, and foreign aid is central to achieving them. U.S. assistance builds stability, strengthens democracies, improves health, and reduces the spread of terrorism. It also fosters economic growth by creating and expanding trade markets. Foreign aid is not charity but a strategic investment in global security and prosperity.
We remain committed to these global goals through scholarship and science for social change at the William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health (WHGI). Our work provides evidence-based solutions that empower communities and drive policy action.
Through research on the Demographic Dividend, we provide high-quality data to help countries achieve population-driven economic growth. The Challenge Initiative (TCI) helps local governments scale up high-impact interventions that save lives. Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) delivers critical, real-time data to inform local and national policies. In November 2025, the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP)—the world’s largest convening on family planning and reproductive health—will take place in Bogotá, Colombia, under the theme: “Equity Through Action: Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All.”
In this moment of uncertainty, WHGI is stepping up to convene the broader global community for urgent, solutions-driven discussions. In the coming weeks, we will leverage our platforms and partnerships to serve as a neutral convener, bringing together diverse voices for deep, strategic conversations on protecting and strengthening reproductive health and rights worldwide. The Family Planning News Network (FPNN) will soon launch a storytelling advocacy campaign to elevate the voices of those most affected by these cuts and highlight their consequences.
It is easy to feel overwhelmed and distracted in times of chaos and uncertainty. But now is the time to act. We must remain steadfast, united in purpose, and committed to our community’s collective goals. By staying focused and empowering people worldwide to do the same, we can rise above the uncertainty and make a meaningful impact on the lives of millions who depend on this work.
This message was originally posted on LinkedIn.
