Donald Trump today banned the US government from giving funding to health groups that offer abortion counselling.
The President signed an order reinstating the “global gag rule”, which denies US foreign aid to groups who "perform or actively promote" terminations.
He was photographed signing the bill in the Oval Office, flanked by eight members of his staff, all of whom are men.
Vice President and anti-abortion campaigner Mike Pence, chief of staff Reince Priebus, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and top advisor and former far-right website owner Steve Bannon were all present.
There did not appear to be any women present for the signing.
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On his first full working day as President, Trump also signed orders on withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal and a hiring freeze for all departments but the military.
Donald Trump’s press spokesman Sean Spicer today said: “[Trump has] made it very clear that he's a pro-life President.
"We're standing up not just for life on the unborn but for taxpayer funds that are being spent overseas to perform an action that is contrary to the values of this President."
The US funds international family planning and reproductive health groups around the world to the tune of $600 million a year.
It’s thought the money helps 27 million women access contraceptives.
The rule was introduced by Ronald Reagan in 1984, revoked by Bill Clinton in 1993 and reintroduced by George W Bush in 2001.
Barack Obama overturned it three days into his first term in 2009.
