Trump orders expanded IVF access, affordability

President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered policy recommendations for securing Americans’ access to in vitro fertilization and aggressively reducing its cost. The procedures to fertilize and implant eggs can be prohibitively expensive, ranging from $12,000 to $25,000 per IVF cycle, the White House said. The executive order directs the president’s domestic policy assistant to submit the recommendations within 90 days. On the campaign trail, Trump said he wanted the government or insurance companies to cover IVF costs, making it free for families.

Many Christian leaders and church groups—notably the Southern Baptist Convention and the Vatican—have formally warned against inappropriate uses of IVF.

How have political conservatives responded? Some Republican senators praised Trump for keeping promises made on the campaign trail. But the issue remains divisive among pro-lifers. The Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group released a statement supporting IVF and calling for stronger ethical standards to protect the health of both parents and created embryos. But some pro-life activists, including Lila Rose and Kristan Hawkins, decried the decision, saying IVF results in millions of frozen or discarded embryos.

How have Democrats responded? U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois has introduced a bill that would create a federal right to IVF. She said the executive order does nothing to improve access to the procedure while calling Trump and Republicans to support her bill. The Democratic National Committee blamed Trump for opening the door to attacks on IVF by appointing the justices who overturned Roe v. Wade.

Dig deeper: Read Mary Jackson and Emma Freire’s report on the growing pronatalist movement.