Global Outrage Grows as U.S. Moves to Destroy $9.7M in Contraceptives Meant for Africa
An international outcry has erupted in France following revelations that the United States government is planning to destroy millions of dollars’ worth of unexpired contraceptive products originally intended for vulnerable communities in some of the world’s poorest regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
The products, valued at approximately $9.7 million, were acquired by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) during the administration of former President Joe Biden, who had prioritized global health and women’s reproductive rights. The contraceptives were part of broader foreign aid efforts to improve access to family planning and reduce unintended pregnancies in underserved communities.
However, with the return of Donald Trump to the White House earlier this year, the political direction has sharply reversed. Trump’s administration has since taken a hardline stance against reproductive health programs, reinstating conservative policies, slashing foreign aid budgets, and now initiating the destruction of vital contraceptive supplies.
These contraceptives—mostly long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and birth control implants—are currently stored in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium. Reports indicate that a portion of the stock has already been removed from the facility and may be en route to France, where they could soon be incinerated by a private waste disposal company.
French Activists, NGOs Sound the Alarm
The news has sparked alarm among French feminist organizations, reproductive health advocates, and left-leaning political groups, who are calling the move both “absurd” and “morally irresponsible.”
Sarah Durocher, President of France’s Family Planning Association, told AFP that her organization was informed just 36 hours earlier that boxes of contraceptives had already started leaving the Belgian facility.
“We don’t know where these trucks are now or whether they’ve already reached France,” she said. “But we are calling on all medical waste management companies to refuse to incinerate these contraceptives. We must oppose this wild decision.”
Durocher and other French women’s rights advocates are urging immediate action from the French government and waste management firms to block the destruction.
The Role of USAID and Political Backtracking
The stockpile of contraceptives was purchased under the Biden administration through USAID, which had sought to expand access to reproductive healthcare around the globe. Biden’s global health agenda included increasing support for sexual and reproductive health, particularly in developing nations where such services are scarce and maternal mortality rates remain high.
However, the Trump administration’s return has brought renewed hostility toward abortion and contraception initiatives. A key element of the policy shift has been the dismantling of USAID’s global health infrastructure, allegedly under the guidance of Elon Musk, now described by several sources as having advised the Trump administration on “foreign aid efficiency.”
While the claims surrounding Musk’s involvement remain unclear and unconfirmed officially, several watchdogs say that USAID’s global operations have been gutted, including logistics contracts for distributing healthcare goods like the contraceptive stockpile now marked for destruction.
Logistics and the French Connection
According to reports, the destruction of these products is being arranged through a network of contractors. One of them, Chemonics International, is a major logistics partner for USAID. In turn, Veolia, a French multinational waste management firm, confirmed to AFP that it holds a contract with Chemonics.
However, Veolia has stressed that their current agreement only covers the disposal of expired medical products, and the contraceptives in question do not fall under that category. According to multiple reports, many of the contraceptive items are still valid for use for up to five years.
Veolia has neither confirmed nor denied whether it will proceed with the destruction of these unexpired contraceptives, further fueling concern among reproductive rights groups.
Another French waste management giant, Suez, publicly denied involvement, telling AFP that it “does not provide waste management services for all contraceptive products purchased by USAID.”
‘France Must Not Be Complicit’ – Civil Society Speaks Out
The controversy has ignited a fierce response across France. A joint opinion article published in Le Monde on Friday, co-signed by five major non-governmental organizations including MSI Reproductive Choices, described the planned destruction as an “absurdity.”
“France cannot become the site of such operations. A moratorium is essential,” the article stated, urging the French government to intervene immediately to prevent the incineration of the medical supplies.
The message has been echoed across French civil society. A petition launched by feminist associations and labor unions calling for the products to be saved has already gathered over 10,000 signatures since its release on Wednesday. The petition emphasizes that these contraceptives are not only medically viable but urgently needed in low-income countries suffering from shortages in family planning commodities.
Historical Echoes and Personal Appeals
One of the most poignant moments in the debate came when Charles Dallara, the grandson of the French politician who championed the legalisation of the contraceptive pill in 1967, appeared on national television to appeal directly to President Emmanuel Macron.
“This is not just a logistical decision. It is a moral one,” Dallara said. “We owe it to the global community—and to our own history of women’s rights—to stop this destruction.”
Though Macron has yet to issue an official statement, France’s Ministry of Health confirmed it is “closely monitoring the situation.” Many believe that public pressure could soon force a more definitive response from the Élysée Palace.
Why This Matters: Global Health, Equity, and Rights
The possible destruction of millions of dollars’ worth of still-usable contraceptives is being framed by many global health experts as a public health failure, especially given the devastating impact it could have on women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa.
These regions face some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, largely due to limited access to contraception, unsafe abortions, and lack of comprehensive reproductive healthcare. Organizations such as UNFPA, Marie Stopes International, and Doctors Without Borders have consistently highlighted the role of LARCs (like IUDs and implants) in reducing unplanned pregnancies and improving maternal health outcomes.
Destroying this stockpile could effectively mean denying millions of women the ability to control their reproductive health—a move that advocates argue is both unethical and avoidable.
“It’s not just about burning boxes in a warehouse,” said Dr. Amaka Iroanya, a global reproductive health specialist. “It’s about setting fire to the futures of young girls who are trying to stay in school, avoid early pregnancy, and live healthier lives.”
The Bigger Picture: Trump’s Ideological War on Reproductive Rights
The proposed destruction also underscores a broader ideological battle. With Trump’s return, Washington’s foreign aid agenda has undergone a dramatic transformation. His administration’s reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule, which blocks funding to any organizations that provide or even discuss abortion, has already led to widespread service disruptions globally.
The new plan to incinerate contraceptives appears to be a further escalation, aligned with the ultra-conservative values shaping current White House policy.
Critics argue that this is not just an internal U.S. matter—it’s an act of international sabotage that disproportionately harms poor women in developing countries, undermining decades of progress in reproductive rights and maternal health.
Calls for International Intervention
With the French government yet to take decisive action, global reproductive health advocates are now calling on international bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union to intervene. They argue that destruction of critical medical supplies, particularly when they are unexpired and urgently needed, violates both ethical standards and international human rights protocols.
“The world is watching,” said Anne-Marie Leclerc, spokesperson for Global Health Justice. “Allowing millions of dollars’ worth of viable contraception to go up in smoke while women are dying from preventable pregnancies is a global disgrace.”
What Happens Next?
The exact whereabouts of the contraceptive stockpile remain unclear. While several truckloads have reportedly left the Belgian facility, it is unknown whether they have already entered France or are being rerouted.
All eyes are now on President Emmanuel Macron and his administration to decide whether France will permit the destruction to proceed on its soil—or whether it will step in and prevent what many are calling a reproductive rights catastrophe.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups across Europe and the United States are preparing legal challenges and public demonstrations to halt the destruction and divert the contraceptives to NGOs or ministries of health in need.
Time, however, is running out. With reports suggesting that incineration may begin before the end of July, activists are urging immediate action.
A Crisis of Policy and Conscience
The proposed incineration of USAID-purchased contraceptives has opened up a storm of controversy, pitting political ideology against public health, and national sovereignty against international responsibility. The products—intended to empower women in underserved regions—may soon be reduced to ashes in what critics call an act of calculated negligence.
As protests mount and global voices grow louder, the world now waits to see whether France will act to prevent what many see as an unjust and unnecessary waste of life-saving resources.
In the end, this crisis is about more than contraceptives. It is a referendum on our shared commitment to health equity, women’s rights, and global solidarity in an increasingly divided world.