- President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday aimed at making in vitro fertilization more affordable and accessible. IVF, which helps couples with infertility, can cost between $12,000 and $25,000 per cycle, often without insurance coverage.
- The order paves the way for policy recommendations to reduce costs and increase access to IVF.
- Republican Sen. Katie Britt praised the move, while Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth criticized it, calling it insufficient and urging support for her IVF legislation.
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President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday, Feb. 18, aimed at lowering the costs associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF), which is prohibitively expensive for many couples who wish to become pregnant but can’t.
IVF includes a series of procedures such as medications, surgeries, anesthesia, ultrasounds, blood tests and embryo storage and transfer.
According to the executive action, about one in seven families are unable to conceive. However, the IVF process is typically not covered by health insurance and expensive — ranging from $12,000 to $25,000 per cycle.
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Trump’s order directs the Domestic Policy Council to recommend ways to increase access to IVF and other fertility treatments while making them more affordable.
“The order recognizes the importance of family formation and that our nation’s public policy must make it easier for loving and longing mothers and fathers to have children,” the order states.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 85,000 babies were born via IVF in 2021.
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., an advocate for expanding access to IVF, celebrated the executive order. In a statement, she said, “IVF is fundamentally pro-family, helping aspiring parents across our nation start and grow their families. I couldn’t be happier to see President Trump take this landmark step to expand access to this pathway to parenthood.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who introduced her own legislation guaranteeing the right to IVF, criticized the executive order, saying it doesn’t go far enough.
She posted on X, “Don’t be fooled. Trump’s executive order does nothing to expand access to IVF. But if he’s actually serious about delivering on his campaign promise, he can prove it by calling on Republicans to back my Right to IVF Act. Otherwise, it’s all just lip service from a known liar.”
It is currently unclear whether Congress will need to pass legislation to fulfill Trump’s IVF recommendations.
