President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to expand access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) has ignited a debate within the pro-life community. While the initiative aims to make IVF treatments more affordable and accessible, key pro-life advocates argue that the technology conflicts with pro-life principles due to the potential destruction of embryos during the process.
The executive order, signed on February 18 directs the Internal Policy Council to develop recommendations for reducing IVF costs, which currently range from $12,000 to $25,000 per cycle. This move fulfills a campaign promise to support aspiring parents facing infertility challenges.
Live Action founder Lila Rose posted on X, saying, “IVF doesn’t address the root causes of the infertility health crisis in America…It’s a Big Pharma bandaid, with major ethical issues, like millions of frozen & destroyed embryos. If we want to Make America Healthy Again, we should invest in addressing and healing the underlying causes of infertility.”
Conservative commentators have also voiced opposition. Alex Clark of Turning Point USA noted that “IVF ends more precious lives than it creates. President Trump’s executive order pushing for expanded access is just fueling the same industry that competes with Planned Parenthood. More babies will also be born without a right to know both of their biological parents, and that’s a tragedy in itself.”
Liz Wheeler, a Catholic conservative commentator, labeled IVF as “dreadful,” highlighting moral and ethical dilemmas associated with the procedure. “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,” Wheeler noted.
The executive order instructs the council to provide policy recommendations within 90 days. While the intention is to alleviate the financial burden of IVF, the directive has sparked a complex discussion about the ethical implications of assisted reproductive technologies within the pro-life movement.
