• Nearly $10 million in U.S.-funded contraceptives to be destroyed in France.
• Offers from NGOs and UN agencies to redirect supplies were rejected.
• The contraceptives remain unused due to Trump's foreign aid freeze.
• The U.S. will pay $160,000 for the incineration at a medical waste facility.
• Critics assert this action heightens risks for women's reproductive health in developing nations.

U.S.-funded contraceptives valued at nearly $10 million are scheduled for destruction in France after the Trump administration declined multiple offers to redirect the unused supplies to developing nations, according to Reuters.

The stockpile, consisting of contraceptive implants, pills, and intrauterine devices, has been sitting unused in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium, since President Trump’s decision to freeze U.S. foreign aid in January. This halt left these essential healthcare supplies without a destination, as reported by India Times.

Despite the urgent need for these supplies in many developing countries, the U.S. government opted to incinerate them at a medical waste facility in France. The incineration process will cost American taxpayers approximately $160,000, reports Africanews.

Various international organizations, including the United Nations' UNFPA and MSI Reproductive Choices, which advocated for the repackaging and shipping of the contraceptives, were rebuffed by the U.S. government. Sarah Shaw, Associate Director of Advocacy at MSI, indicated that they were willing to cover repackaging costs but were informed that the government would only sell the supplies at market value. Shaw stated, “This is clearly not about saving money. It feels more like an ideological assault on reproductive rights,” which highlights the broader implications of this decision on women's health in regions reliant on U.S. aid, according to Reuters and India Times.

Belgium's foreign ministry has confirmed that it engaged in discussions with U.S. authorities to prevent the destruction of these supplies, emphasizing that “sexual and reproductive health must not be subject to ideological constraints." However, no acceptable solutions were found, leading to the planned incineration, as noted by Africanews and India Times.

As discussions continue in Congress, two bills aimed at preventing the incineration of these contraceptives have been introduced, but critics argue they are unlikely to pass in time. An internal memo from USAID had previously recommended "immediate" action to transfer the supplies, highlighting the bureaucratic oversight involved, according to Reuters and India Times.