- Trump signs executive order to expand IVF access and reduce costs.
- Alabama ruling on frozen embryos sparks national IVF debate.
- Congress remains divided on guaranteeing nationwide IVF access.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday aimed at expanding access to and reducing the costs of in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
The order directs the assistant to the president for domestic policy to submit policy recommendations within 90 days on ensuring IVF accessibility and lowering out-of-pocket expenses.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- 45% of Nigerian Girls Become Mothers Before 18 — World Bank
- ECOWAS Faces Historic Defection as Three West African Nations Withdraw
- Netanyahu to Meet Trump at White House Next Week
“It is the policy of my Administration to ensure reliable access to IVF treatment, including by easing unnecessary statutory or regulatory burdens to make IVF treatment drastically more affordable,” the order states.
Speaking at Mar-a-Lago, Trump emphasised the importance of the policy, saying, “I think the women and families, husbands are very appreciative of it.” Cameras were not present during the signing.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump positioned himself as a strong advocate for IVF, even calling himself the “father of IVF” during an October Fox News town hall. He pledged to implement a policy mandating that either the government or insurance companies cover the full cost of IVF treatments.
At a campaign event in Michigan in August, he announced, “Under the Trump administration, your government will pay for, or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for, all costs associated with IVF treatment.” However, he did not specify the funding mechanism for this proposal.
Trump’s executive order follows significant political controversy over IVF access, sparked by a 2024 Alabama Supreme Court ruling that declared frozen embryos to be children, potentially exposing those who destroy or damage them to wrongful death lawsuits. The ruling led to nationwide concerns about its impact on infertility treatments.
Amid backlash, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill granting civil and criminal immunity to IVF providers and patients. Trump sought to distance himself from the court’s decision, reiterating his “strong” support for IVF and urging Alabama lawmakers to act swiftly to preserve access to the procedure.
FURTHER READING
- [VIDEO] Commotion Rocks PDP BoT Meeting as Faction Confront Each Other
- NiDCOM Prepares for Deportation of Nigerians from U.S
- BREAKING: Sowore Pleads Not Guilty to Cybercrime Charges Filed by Police IG
Despite Trump’s pledge to expand IVF access, congressional Republicans have yet to pass federal protections for the procedure.
In June, Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic-led bill aimed at guaranteeing nationwide access, dismissing it as a political maneuver. While some Republican lawmakers introduced their own proposals on IVF and contraception, none have advanced in Congress.
