Unconscionable: US plan to destroy $9.7 million of contraceptives

The contraceptives—including implants, oral contraceptive pills, injectable contraceptives, and IUDs—were purchased with US tax dollars for USAID family planning and reproductive health programs that were shut down following the US government’s decision to defund them earlier this year. MSF teams are concerned about supply shortages of these items. In the communities served by MSF—whether impacted by conflict, disease outbreaks, natural and human-made disasters, or exclusion from health care—access to contraception is already constrained. Contexts that previously relied upon USAID-funded contraceptive supplies are at a heightened risk of supply chain disruptions and stockouts.

According to reports, the contraceptive supplies housed in Belgium are set to be destroyed by the end of July despite being well within their expiration date and in good condition. The earliest expiration date of some supplies is 2027, with many not expiring until 2031. 

Up to $40 million of US taxpayer money stuck in a supply chain

It is estimated that $40 million worth of contraceptives are stuck at various points in the global health supply chain. Reports indicate that there is another warehouse of USAID-purchased contraceptives in the United Arab Emirates, but the US government’s plan for those supplies is unknown. MSF calls for transparency from the US government regarding the extent and nature of warehoused supplies that were intended for global health and humanitarian contexts and those that it is likely set to destroy, and the rationale used to justify the destruction of these medical supplies.

“Access to contraception is crucial to women and girls’ health, autonomy, and self-determination. We cannot minimize its importance,” said Rachel Milkovich, senior policy and advocacy specialist for MSF USA. “We must remember that these contraceptives had an intended destination. Women and girls were expecting to use them. It is unconscionable to think of these health products being burned when the demand for them globally is so great.”

The imminent destruction of these contraceptives is the latest in a series of moves by the US government that continue to deepen the growing global health emergency that it created by abruptly terminating billions of dollars of foreign assistance earlier this year. 

Just this month, the US government decided to incinerate 500 tons of emergency food assistance, which expired due to its refusal to authorize its delivery for several months. This destruction of nutrition items comes as children are dying from malnutrition in Sudan, Gaza, and many other countries. The US government has also allowed nearly 800,000 mpox vaccines—already committed to countries—to expire, even as cases continue to spread across many countries.

“The US government manufactured this problem,” said Benoît. “Destroying valuable medical items that were already paid for by US taxpayers does nothing to combat waste or improve efficiency. This administration is willing to burn birth control and let food supplies rot, risking people’s health and lives to push a political agenda.”

More than $150,000 to destroy despite offers to buy

Media reports estimate that it will cost at least an additional $167,000 to destroy the contraceptives slated for incineration, which require transportation from the warehouse in Belgium to an incineration site in France for specialized destruction. Given that many of these items have active hormonal ingredients, this massive volume of contraceptives must be incinerated twice to be safely destroyed. This is not an efficient or responsible use of US funds.

Other organizations, such as MSI Reproductive Choices and their partners, offered to pay for the shipment and distribution of these supplies, but the US government declined these offers. MSF is committed to helping identify viable and innovative alternatives to prevent these contraceptive supplies from being burned and destroyed. Ultimately, the most prudent way forward is for these contraceptives to get to Ministries of Health in countries that need them as soon as possible. 

MSF does not accept US government funding, but in many countries our teams support in the final step of administering contraceptives that have been provided to Ministries of Health. Shortages of these supplies from national government stocks will create gaps that MSF teams will not be able to fill.

“There is no excuse to destroy these contraceptives,” said Benoît. “The reality is that they could be used by health providers around the world, especially in places that relied upon USAID contraceptive programs and are now seeing serious service gaps due to the US government’s decision to drastically cut foreign aid and close the agency altogether.” 

The gaps left by the US government’s withdrawal of funds for USAID family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) are disrupting the entire global system for these services. The US government was previously the largest bilateral donor to global family planning and reproductive health, contributing $607.5 million US in the 2024 fiscal year. This shift endangers longstanding progress made to improve women and girls’ health worldwide. 

Contraceptives are essential health care

Among women and girls aged 15 to 49, 164 million wish to delay or prevent pregnancy but are not currently using a modern method of contraception. Contraceptives can safely and effectively prevent an unintended pregnancy. When a pregnancy is unwanted or mistimed, it can increase the risk of pregnancy complications, including maternal death and injury. 

These health risks are already elevated in fragile and conflict-affected settings and have been amplified in contexts that formerly relied upon USAID. Destroying essential medical supplies further constrains and reduces the ability of local governments and other actors like MSF to meet this heightened demand. No single entity can scale up and fill these gaps overnight. 

Although this press release uses the term “women” and “girls,” we recognize that transgender, intersex, and gender non-binary people also experience pregnancy and need contraceptive services. We work to ensure that our services are gender-inclusive and we strive to overcome all barriers to sexual and reproductive health services.