U.S. spending $25,000 monthly to store unusable contraceptives in Belgium

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

The United States is spending nearly $25,000 per month to store $9.7 million worth of contraceptives in Belgium that were originally intended for low-income countries but became largely unusable due to a pause in foreign aid. This stockpile remains largely undistributed amid uncertainty over its future, highlighting the logistical and financial challenges of managing health supplies amid changing U.S. policy.

The United States is incurring nearly $25,000 in monthly expenses to store contraceptives in Belgium that were initially procured for distribution in low-income countries but have since become largely unusable, according to a government report. An estimated $9.7 million worth of contraceptives, including implants and pills, have been held in a Belgian warehouse since January 2025, coinciding with a U.S. pause on foreign aid during that period.

The report, compiled by the Office of the Inspector General for the former U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), reveals that between January 2025 and March 2026, the combined costs of storing and transporting the contraceptive supplies totaled approximately $360,667. Additionally, ongoing storage expenses continue to amount to around $24,550 per month.

These contraceptives were originally intended to help reduce unintended pregnancies and improve reproductive health outcomes in resource-poor settings. Aid officials have previously noted that the stockpile could have contributed significantly to these efforts if distributed as planned.

Chemonics, the contractor responsible for the procurement and distribution of these contraceptives under the U.S. government contract, supplied the financial figures to the Inspector General. Following the cancellation of the delivery contract by the U.S., Chemonics reportedly sought potential buyers or charitable organizations to accept donations of the contraceptive supplies. However, those efforts stalled partly due to a lack of clear direction from U.S. authorities regarding the ultimate disposition of the stockpile.

Requests for comment from both the U.S. government and Chemonics went unanswered. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the ongoing uncertainty over the future of the contraceptives has complicated attempts to redistribute or repurpose the inventory.

The report highlights logistical and financial challenges stemming from the sudden halt in foreign aid, reflecting broader complexities in managing international health commodities amid shifting policy decisions.