Trump administration cuts off UN agency's funds over abortion concern

The Trump administration is cutting off US funding to the United Nations Population Fund over concerns about abortion.

The State Department has determined that the UN agency falls under the "Kemp-Kasten amendment." The amendment affects organisations that support or participate in coercive abortion programmes or involuntary sterilisation.

The UN Population Fund works on population and reproductive issues. The State Department says the agency partners with Chinese government agencies despite China's restrictions on reproduction.

The US has traditionally made that determination during Republican administrations and resumed funding the agency in Democratic administrations.

The State Department says $32.5 million in funding will instead be shifted to a US Agency for International Development account for family planning and reproductive health.