Former US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg has called out Donald Trump over a broken campaign promise to provide free in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for Americans, describing the reversal as both predictable and “cruel.”
Buttigieg, one of the most prominent openly queer politicians in the United States and a father of two, posted his criticism on X (formerly Twitter), taking aim at Trump’s lack of follow-through.
“Truly being ‘pro-family’ means ensuring access and cost of care – including IVF – never stands in the way of someone choosing to start or grow their family,” Buttigieg wrote. “Trump breaking his promise about something as important as this might not be surprising, but it is cruel.”
Trump had previously vowed during an August 2024 campaign event:
“Under the Trump administration, we are going to be paying for that treatment. We’re going to be mandating that the insurance company pay.”
That promise gave hope to thousands of Americans, especially LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, for whom IVF can be the only path to biological parenthood. IVF treatments can cost tens of thousands of dollars, making it inaccessible to many without insurance coverage.
Trump made the statement in an apparent attempt to distance himself from growing criticism within his own party regarding IVF access. Last year, the Alabama Supreme Court, citing a Republican-backed anti-choice law, effectively banned the procedure, declaring that fertilised embryos should be considered human beings under state law. Around the same time, Senate Republicans blocked a bill aimed at protecting IVF access.
To combat the backlash, Trump went so far as to dub himself the “father of IVF” and declared during a speech: “We’re going to expand access.”
In February 2025, he signed an executive order creating a policy council tasked with issuing recommendations to lower IVF costs. However, reproductive rights advocates criticised the order for lacking substance and described it as having “no meaningful impact on access to fertility treatments.”
The White House has since confirmed that there are no plans to mandate insurance companies to cover IVF, contradicting Trump’s 2024 promise and prompting Buttigieg’s sharp response.
For LGBTQ+ people, IVF is often essential in building families. Buttigieg and his husband, author Chasten Buttigieg, are parents to two children through adoption.
