Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Ranking Member of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced a sweeping expansion of the Global Gag Rule—a policy that cuts off U.S. foreign assistance to international organizations that provide, refer for, or even discuss abortion as a legal medical option, even when using their own non-U.S. funds.

The expansion dramatically broadens the rule’s reach, applying it to nearly all non-military foreign assistance and conditioning aid not only on abortion-related restrictions, but also on compliance with the Administration’s ideological positions on LGBTQ rights, diversity, equity, inclusion, and so-called “gender ideology.” It also extends the policy to U.S.-based organizations working overseas and foreign governments.

By forcing the State Department to police the policies of thousands of organizations and governments, this change threatens to disrupt emergency response, weaken health systems, damage global partnerships, and increase the risk of conflict and disease outbreaks—making the world, and the United States, less safe.

“This reckless expansion turns lifesaving aid into an ideological loyalty test,” said Ranking Member Frankel. “It will slow emergency response, undermine trusted partnerships, handicap our ability to prevent instability and respond to humanitarian crises, and make it more likely for disease to reach our shores. It is a shortsighted and cruel mandate for our already weakened foreign assistance tools. ”