A newly obtained memo reveals that millions of dollars' worth of contraceptives purchased by U.S.A.I.D. have spoiled in Belgium after the Trump administration dismantled the agency. The contraceptives, originally destined for low-income nations in Africa, were left stranded when the agency was defunded last year. By September, only $1.6 million of the $9.7 million supply remained viable.

The memo shows officials had multiple options to offload the still-usable contraceptives, including donating to Doctors Without Borders, but political concerns and fear of media attention stalled action. Local Belgian regulations also prohibited destroying usable medication, creating a diplomatic impasse that has dragged on for over a year. The Trump administration had initially planned to incinerate the contraceptives, but that plan was halted in August.

This waste represents a significant setback for global health efforts, as the United States previously funded about 40 percent of contraceptives for people in low-income countries. A recent study projects that U.S. aid cuts will leave up to 100 million people across 41 countries without contraception access over the next five years. The situation highlights the long-term consequences of abruptly dismantling U.S.A.I.D. and the complex challenges of managing stranded aid supplies.