The White House

President Donald Trump once described himself as “very pro-choice,” despite hating abortion. But his actions since taking office have revived hope among anti-abortion activists for changes that seemed impossible under the Obama administration.

One of Trump’s first official acts was to reinstate and expand a ban on funding for international organizations that provide abortions or related counseling. Trump’s version of the policy, first introduced under the Reagan administration, applies not only to the roughly $600 million that the United States provides annually for family planning services but to almost all global health assistance — about $8.8 billion worth.

Abortion foes have also seen champions of their cause ascend to top positions in the Trump administration, including Vice President Mike Pence, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway.

Trump has also promised to appoint U.S. Supreme Court justices who would overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion across the country. The selection of Judge Neil Gorsuch did not give conservative justices the majority they would need to do that, but any future vacancies could change the composition of the court. advocate for reproductive rights.

In April, Trump signed a law reversing a regulation finalized in the last days of the Obama administration that prevented states from withholding federal Title X grants for family planning services from groups that also provide abortions.

The Republican plans to replace the ACA would also have prevented Planned Parenthood from receiving reimbursements from Medicaid for one year, even though it is already illegal to use federal money for abortion services.

The two programs account for the majority of the funds that Planned Parenthood receives from government sources. Such cuts could force the closure of health care centers that provide contraception, cancer screenings and other services to uninsured patients, the group says.