In January, the Trump administration took several giant steps forward in protecting innocent, preborn human life. Here’s just a partial list.
*The Mexico City Policy [MCP], first issued by President Ronald Reagan in 1985, prevented US tax dollars from being given to international organizations that “perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning.” That policy was rescinded and re-enacted several times as pro-abortion Democrat presidents and pro-life Republican presidents cycled through the White House.
In January, the Trump administration extended the limit on funding, widely described as the most significant expansion of the MCP in more than 40 years. It now applies to most non-military foreign assistance and most recipients of foreign aid (not just foreign NGOs).
*The Reagan administration placed limits on federal funding of research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that used tissue from aborted babies. That policy also see-sawed back and forth between Democrat and Republican administrations.
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On January 23, the Trump administration expanded the policy. Not only were funds restricted for NIH research, no funds would be made available for any research on fetal tissue, including universities or research labs. NIH funding for fetal tissue research was actually a small part of the funds used. A much larger share of the pie was used by universities and researchers, and that has now been halted as well.
As Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr., stated, “HHS is ending the use of human fetal tissue from elective abortions in agency-funded research and replacing it with gold-standard science. The science supports this shift, the ethics demand it, and we will apply this standard consistently across the Department.”
*The administration announced action against the state of Illinois for violation of federal conscience protection laws. Some states, where abortion is legal, have been trying to force medical personnel who oppose abortion to perform or assist in the procedure. The White House will enforce federal protections for health care workers who object to participating in the death of an unborn child.
* Federal action was taken to halt taxpayer funding of abortion-related travel and to initiate fraud investigations involving misuse of federal funds by abortion providers. I can assure you, that caught Planned Parenthood’s attention.
Of course, there is still more that needs to be accomplished. Mifepristone—the abortion pill—is now responsible for at least 63% of abortions being performed. The administration is reviewing the safety and efficacy of the pills.
We know the pills kill the most vulnerable among us and harm women. We want the pills banned today!
But consider this: When the Supreme Court overturned Roe, it didn’t make abortion illegal. It said states get to decide what their laws are. The president doesn’t have the authority to just pull a product off the shelves.
If that attempt was made, the decision would be struck immediately in several courts and the battle would continue for years. The research has to be based on evidence that withstands scientific scrutiny, and the administration needs time to “get it right.”
There is still much to do but this administration has been a solid, stalwart ally of unborn children, their moms, and the pro-life movement.
It seems that much is going well, but then we turn around and see a renewed effort to “abolish” abortion, with the main focus being to penalize women for getting an abortion. What is astonishing is to hear even women who have had an abortion promote that viewpoint.
How can they talk about the trauma of their own abortion, then turn around and declare that women who seek an abortion should be penalized, with whatever code is affected in law— incarceration? life without parole?
For those who believe woman should be charged with murder or homicide, I have a question—should the penalty be retroactive? Why not go back to Roe, or at least to Dobbs? If we’re going to penalize women, why is it only women from this moment forward?
One can take what they think is the moral high ground by demanding penalties for women, but the bigger, much more important question is this. Is our mission to save babies and help moms or seek vengeance?
The American public does not support penalties for women who have had an abortion. If the pro-life movement moves in that direction, we have lost.
Pro-life candidates will lose elections, ensuring that pro-life legislation will be defeated or repealed. Ballot measures in states trying to protect unborn children will go down in flames.
Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, are not going to vote for putting their mother, daughter, sister, or friend in jail.
Yes, some women know what they are doing, or have a mistaken belief that they know what they’re doing, but far too many are pushed into the abortion. A study from the Eliot Institute found that 70% of aborting women felt “pressured to abort by other people or circumstances.” This often isn’t a decision made by the woman.
My president’s column in May 2025 addressed many of the problems with imposing penalties on aborted women. I hope and pray you will take a couple minutes to click on the link and read it.
The pro-life movement will continue the fight to protect unborn children through legislative and political means. We will continue to educate, changing hearts and minds. And we will continue to show compassion to women, helping them to see the beauty of the life growing inside them, and letting them know they do not walk alone.
Vice President JD Vance gave a rousing speech at the March for Life. He said, “Now, you all know this very well: Building a culture of life requires persuasion. And that’s what’s so different about this moment compared to the moment that was dominated by the Supreme Court for 50 years. We’re not trying to argue to the Supreme Court anymore. We are trying to persuade our fellow citizens that we must build up that culture of life.”
We must do our part to lovingly persuade all people. And we know, as Vance said, “Under this administration, again, from the president of the United States to the vice president, you have an ally in the White House.”
LifeNews Note: Carol Tobias is the president of the National Right to Life Committee.
