Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg Says Trump Gag Rule Executive Order Will Lead To 'Terrible Consequences'

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg criticized on Thursday President Donald Trump’s executive order which reinstates the Global Gag Rule, saying it could have “terrible consequences for women and families around the world.”

What Is The Global Gag Rule

The executive order reinstates the policy that limits funding for abortion education and procedures around the world, known as the Global Gag Rule. The law, formally known as the Mexico City Policy for the location it was announced in, states that non-governmental organizations outside the U.S. who receive family planning funding from the United States can’t provide abortions, educate the public or government on the need for safe abortions or provide advice on where to get an abortion. The policy excludes cases of life endangerment, incest and rape.

The law was repealed by President Bill Clinton, reestablished by President George W. Bush and repealed again by President Barack Obama.

Sandberg Criticizes Trump’s Executive Order

In a Facebook post, Sandberg said she saw “firsthand” while working at the World Bank on health care in India how clinics funded by foreign aid are often the only source of health care for women .

“When women are given even the most basic health care information and services, they live longer, healthier lives -- and they give birth to children who live longer, healthier lives,” said Sandberg.

The Facebook COO said comprehensive family planning helps avoid unintended pregnancies, deaths and abortions, adding that the rule would make it more difficult.

Sandberg added “this ban is harsher and broader than past orders by past presidents, because it covers every program that falls under global health assistance. That means it'll hurt more people.”

The COO said the policy has shown its weakness time and time again.

“The last time the global gag rule was in effect, research showed more women who lost access to contraception had unwanted pregnancies and abortion rates doubled,” she said. “The best way to prevent abortion is through more family planning services, not fewer.”

In the post, Sandberg also expressed her support for Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s (D-NH) Global Health, Empowerment and Rights (HER) Act to reverse Trump’s executive order.

“Women’s rights are human rights – and there is no more basic right than health care,” Sandberg concluded. “Women around the world deserve our support.”

Sandberg recently met with Trump last month during a tech summit in Manhattan along with other prominent tech leaders, including Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Apple CEO Tim Cook.