Trump gave Russians classified information, reports say

Senior officials say president’s disclosure could jeopardize intelligence source.

President Donald Trump’s executive order to block U.S. aid to groups abroad that counsel or provide referrals about abortion went into effect Monday and will restrict nearly $9 billion in foreign health assistance.

The rule, which has reproductive rights advocates reeling, is broader than similar bans in place intermittently since 1984. Those past actions were limited to about $600 million in family planning funding.

Senior administration officials confirmed Monday that Trump’s version will affect $8.8 billion for programs related to AIDS, malaria and child health. About $6 billion of that supports programs for HIV/AIDS services, primarily in Africa, as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief established in 2003. Another program that could be hit hard is the President’s Malaria Initiative, started under George W. Bush and expanded under Barack Obama. Defense Department grants related to global health security will also be affected.

The new policy, which is being called “Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance,” affects any organization deemed to promote abortion “as a method of family planning” through abortion counseling, referrals, lobbying or public information campaigns. Trump has said taxpayer dollars should not be used for this purpose.

Women’s rights and family planning groups that oppose the ban have said the result could be catastrophic, resulting in the closure of critical health care centers around the world.

Women’s health experts also cite a 2011 study by Stanford researchers that shows similar policies may be linked to an increase in abortion rates in sub-Saharan African countries — the opposite of the outcome Trump and anti-abortion advocates of the rule are seeking.

It is expected to take several months before the new policy’s effect is fully felt on the ground.

Organizations will have to agree to the new rule whenever they receive a new grant or take any extra money for an existing contract, or they will lose the funding. Administration officials, who would discuss the policy only on condition of anonymity, said money could be “redirected” to other organizations offering similar health services. It won’t be known which organizations could benefit, they said, until the groups with existing contracts decide what to do.

The officials said they do not expect any reduction in overall aid for global health programs.

The administration policy does not prohibit referrals for terminating a pregnancy caused by rape or incest or for one that endangers the woman’s life.