President Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday directing the Domestic Policy Council to explore methods for making in vitro fertilization (IVF) more affordable and accessible for Americans. This action comes despite concerns from Democrats that Trump might seek to ban the procedure.

The executive order emphasizes the need for reliable and affordable access to IVF, noting the high cost per cycle, which can range from $12,000 to $25,000. It aims to provide support, awareness, and access to affordable fertility treatments to help families achieve parenthood.

The order mandates that the assistant to the president for domestic policy submit policy recommendations within 90 days to protect IVF access and significantly reduce out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF treatment. This directive follows accusations from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential candidate in the 2024 election, that the Trump administration was "anti-IVF." Walz specifically criticized then-Senator JD Vance, Trump's running mate, for voting against the Right to IVF Act. Vance, a practicing Catholic, explained that while he respects Catholic social teaching, he believes not all religious views should dictate public policy in a democratic society.

The Right to IVF Act, which aimed to establish a national right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies, failed to pass in the Senate. Walz had publicly criticized Vance's stance on IVF, citing its importance to his own family. However, Walz's wife later clarified that they used intrauterine insemination (IUI), not IVF, to conceive their children. IUI involves placing sperm directly into the uterus, while IVF involves removing eggs, fertilizing them with sperm in a lab, and then implanting the resulting embryos.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, over 85,000 babies were born through IVF in 2021. However, the high cost of IVF treatments is rarely fully covered by health insurance, with only about 25% of employers offering coverage. Trump had previously announced plans to require insurance companies to cover IVF costs, citing the desire to increase the birth rate.