GOP rep says Biden admin is using AIDS relief money to push abortions globally

Republican Congressman Chris Smith (NJ) claimed Monday that the Biden administration is using the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program to promote abortion in Africa. 

In a letter to his colleagues obtained by Fox News, Smith alleged, "President Biden has hijacked PEPFAR, the $6 billion a year foreign aid program designed to mitigate HIV/AIDS in many targeted — mostly African — countries to promote abortion on demand.”

He pointed to two organizations in the letter that have a history of promoting abortion: Village Reach which has received $10.1 million, and Population Services International (PSI) which has received $96.5 million in FEPFAR funds within the last few years. 

“Village Reach and Planned Parenthood used PEPFAR funding through the DREAMS Innovation Challenge to create a manual containing a whole module on ‘unsafe abortion and young people,'" the letter alleged. "Items covered include the need to change pro-life laws to provide ‘services that young people need.”‘

Smith said a third group, Pathfinder International, received $5 million under this administration and claimed it "lobbies to weaken or eliminate pro-life laws in nations around the world.” 

"Pathfinder is explicit in its promotion of abortion in other countries, stating that it is ‘committed to expanding access to…safe abortion.’" Smith alleged. "It ‘[c]ollaborate[s] with governments in building the capacity of health systems to ensure quality, comprehensive abortion services…”’

In a statement to Breitbart Smith said, "President Biden has brazenly hijacked this foreign aid program to promote the killing of unborn children by poison, starvation, and dismemberment." 

"Those of us who support the noble goals of PEPFAR are sickened at heart by Biden’s 2022 radical ‘reimagining PEPFAR’ strategic plan that ‘integrates’ abortion promotion with HIV/AIDS projects," he continued. "In plain language, the Biden Administration further directs PEPFAR to work with organizations seeking to get rid of life-affirming laws in other countries." 

“That is unacceptable. Congress must act to protect PEPFAR—which was created to provide care to those who are ill and tangibly assist women and children—from being radically transformed into a program that promotes abortion on demand,” He concluded. 

The report notes that 31 conservative organizations raised concerns over the use of these funds in May. In a letter to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul and Ranking Member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee James Risch said, "We are concerned that grants from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) are used by nongovernmental organizations that promote abortions and push a radical gender ideology abroad."

"We urge you to ensure that any reauthorization of PEPFAR ensures that taxpayer money is not used for such purposes,” the letter read. 

As well, a group of 139 African parliamentarians sent a letter with their concerns to Congress. 

They wrote they have "concerns and suspicions that this funding is supporting so-called family planning and reproductive health principles and practices, including abortion, that violate our core beliefs concerning life, family, and religion.”

The organizations along with the White House denied the allegations about the funding calling it a "disinformation campaign."