In January 2026, the Trump administration announced an unprecedented expansion of the global gag rule, weaponizing foreign aid and jeopardizing decades-long diplomatic and humanitarian partnerships across the globe. The revised policy—which covers new issues, new entities, and new funding—threatens people’s freedoms, health, rights, and lives, by restricting access to a range of health and humanitarian services, silencing doctors and experts and advocates, and erasing whole communities.
Through this session, attendees will learn how the expanded “rule” weakens U.S. investments in foreign assistance and global health and undermines universal human rights. Panelists will discuss strategies to mitigate the harm of this policy in the short term and consider a path forward for an effective, collaborative, and sustainable foreign aid infrastructure that affirms the dignity of all people.
Speakers:
- Keifer Buckingham, Managing Director, Council for Global Equality
- Desirée Cormier Smith, Co-Founder and Co-President, the Alliance for Diplomacy and Justice
- Caitlin Horrigan, Senior Director, Global Advocacy at Planned Parenthood Federation of America
- Sadia Kidwai, Senior Policy Advocate, Women’s Refugee Commission
Moderator:
Stephanie Psaki, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Brown University School of Public Health
