President Trump has brought back a decades-old Republican policy that stops U.S. funding from going to international organizations that provide or promote abortion services. The decision, announced on Friday, came after he spoke to a large crowd of anti-abortion advocates in Washington, marking the 52nd anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, which was overturned in 2022.

The policy, known as the "Mexico City Rule," was first introduced in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan. It goes beyond existing laws that prevent taxpayer money from funding abortions abroad. Instead, it blocks aid to groups that even discuss abortion as part of family planning or advocate for abortion rights, regardless of whether they use U.S. funds for those activities.

Over the past 40 years, the rule has been a political ping-pong ball, with Democratic presidents scrapping it and Republican leaders reinstating it. It’s been in effect for about half of that time. Trump’s move to revive it isn’t shocking—he’s long been a favorite of anti-abortion groups, especially after promising to appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade during his 2016 campaign.

However, abortion has become a tricky topic for Republicans since Roe was overturned. Trump didn’t focus heavily on it during his 2024 campaign, but he still needs to keep his party’s conservative base happy. This is especially important given his pick for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose stance on abortion has been unclear. During recent meetings with lawmakers, Kennedy assured Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri that he’d back the policy’s return as part of a broader anti-abortion agenda.

The reinstatement of the Mexico City Rule is sure to spark fresh debates about reproductive rights and the role of U.S. funding in global health initiatives. For now, it’s another chapter in the long-running tug-of-war over abortion policy in America.