Pro-life organizations and activists issued warnings and criticism over President Donald Trump’s executive order to expand access to IVF (in vitro fertilization), which he signed on Monday.
The popular but controversial fertility method has sparked concern from religious and pro-life Americans who have moral objections to IVF, especially due to the number of embryos that are destroyed in the IVF process.
Lila Rose, pro-life activist and founder of LiveAction, reacted Monday to the order, arguing that “IVF is NOT pro-life.”
“President Trump just signed an order expanding IVF,” she posted on X. “Only 7% of human embryos created via IVF will result in a live birth; 93% of these lives are frozen indefinitely, miscarried, or aborted. Over 1,000,000 embryos are frozen in the U.S. IVF is NOT pro-life.”
BREAKING:
President Trump just signed an order expanding IVF
Only 7% of human embryos created via IVF will result in a live birth
93% of these lives are frozen indefinitely, miscarried, or aborted
Over 1,000,000 embryos are frozen in the U.S.
IVF is NOT pro-life
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) February 18, 2025
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America warned that regulations need to be put in place for IVF but said the organization does not outright “object to ethical fertility treatments.”
“SBA Pro-Life America does not object to ethical fertility treatments paired with strong medical safety standards that help couples struggling with infertility,” a statement from the pro-life group said. “We also believe human embryos should not be destroyed. Rogue practitioners who switch human embryos, fail to follow basic safety standards, or negligently destroy human embryos desired by infertile couples must be held to account under any federal role in fertility treatment.”
“At a minimum, affordability recommendations provided under this executive order should take into account health and safety protections for parents and embryos,” the organization added.
Rachel Campos-Duffy, a Fox News co-host whose husband works in the Trump administration, suggested Trump and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should instead investigate “root causes” of the fertility crisis.
“I would much rather POTUS & [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] spend our money figuring out WHY infertility in America has skyrocketed rather than subsidizing #BigPharma & IVF,” Campos-Duffy, a devout Catholic, wrote. “We’re always treating symptoms rather than the underlying root causes in this country!”
I would much rather POTUS & @RobertKennedyJr spend our money figuring out WHY infertility in America has skyrocketed rather than subsidizing #BigPharma & IVF. We’re always treating symptoms rather than the underlying root causes in this country! pic.twitter.com/5EM5r837Qu
— Rachel Campos-Duffy (@RCamposDuffy) February 18, 2025
Similarly, Catholic advocacy group CatholicVote posted online, “IVF is NOT the solution to the skyrocketing infertility rates. The IVF industry prioritizes profit over people. There are ethical forms of fertility treatment that help families identify the root cause of their infertility. Subsidizing Big Pharma and IVF is not the answer.”
IVF is NOT the solution to the skyrocketing infertility rates.
The IVF industry prioritizes profit over people.
There are ethical forms of fertility treatment that help families identify the root cause of their infertility.
Subsidizing Big Pharma and IVF is not the answer.
— CatholicVote (@CatholicVote) February 19, 2025
Author Katy Faust called the EO “anti-child.”
“‘Fertility care’ is a euphemism for designer, disposable, and donated (to research) lab-made babies,” she said. “#BigFertility likely destroys 4x more embryonic life annually than #PlannedParenthood. This is an anti-child executive order.”
“Fertility care” is a euphemism for designer, disposable, and donated (to research) lab-made babies.#BigFertility likely destroys 4x more embryonic life annually than #PlannedParenthood.
This is an anti-child executive order. https://t.co/qSz9RP13K9
— Katy Faust (@Advo_Katy) February 18, 2025
Host and commentator Liz Wheeler commented generally on IVF, writing, “Over 90% of children created by IVF die, either left frozen and abandoned, destroyed due to eugenics, experimented on, or miscarried. Only 7% are born. It’s dreadful.”
Over 90% of children created by IVF die, either left frozen and abandoned, destroyed due to eugenics, experimented on, or miscarried. Only 7% are born. It’s dreadful.
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) February 18, 2025
The Trump administration seems open to IVF regulations backed by pro-life groups and potential religious exemptions. As reported by The Daily Wire on Monday, the administration noted that the EO calls for policy recommendations, which will include the input of pro-life groups.
More on IVF order: I asked the White House about concerns regarding conscience protections for religious Americans who object to IVF + concerns about the discarding of embryos.
WH official pointed out to me that the EO calls for policy recommendations, said part of that process… https://t.co/fVRjzIsPLD
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) February 19, 2025
Back in October, Trump signaled that he was open to religious exemptions for a potential mandate that would require insurance companies to cover the costs of IVF treatments.
Donald Trump says he’s open religious exemptions to his proposed IVF mandate: “It sounds, to me, like a pretty good idea, frankly…certainly if there’s a religious problem I think people should go with that..we’ll look at that.” pic.twitter.com/PrxEtTEeOp
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) October 18, 2024
Related: Donald Trump Signs Executive Order On ‘Expanding Access To In Vitro Fertilization’
