Biden officially took office last week.

Joe Biden set to end the abortion funding ban in the United States. The newly inaugurated president looks set to reserve a policy that prohibits funding for nongovernmental groups who provide abortion services or refer patients for procedures in the US. This policy, introduced by the Trump administration, saw any organisation providing or referring patients made ineligible for Title X funding causing many groups, including Planned Parenthood, to seek alternative funds instead. Dr. Anthony Fauci told the World Health Organisation last week that Biden will soon reverse the Mexico City Policy "as part of his broader commitment to protect women's health and advance gender equality at home and around the world." This policy, introduced in the 1980s and expanded on by Trump, blocks NGOs from receiving federal funding if they are in favour of decriminalising abortion, expanding abortion access, or referring patients for abortions. Known as the "gag rule," the policy is believed to have led to an increase in unplanned pregnancies and abortions in the States and elsewhere. The rule also prevents international NGOs from receiving US foreign aid if they advocate for abortion in their own countries. Historically, the policy is reversed when a Democratic president takes office and reinstated when a Republican one does. Since entering office, Biden has already signed a number of executive orders on a host of issues, including Covid-19, the environment, immigration and ethics. These include keeping the US in the World Health Organisation, strengthening the US fight against Covid-19, and ending the Muslim ban. As promised, Biden said the US would also be returning to the 2016 Paris agreement, which was signed by most nations in 2016 in an attempt to limit global warming. A statement on Wednesday detailing the executive orders said Biden "will take action - not just to reverse the gravest damages of the Trump administration - but also to start moving our country forward."