Trump’s IVF Executive Order Was a Surprise to Almost Everyone

Advocates for the treatment wanted it to go further, but the White House says it was merely a “first step” to fulfilling a campaign promise.

Lab staff prepare small petri dishes, each holding several 1-7 day old embryos.

The order follows a formula of other executive actions meant to address harder-to-achieve campaign promises. Michael Wyke/AP

Donald Trump’s executive order on in vitro fertilization did little to fulfill his campaign pledge that fertility treatments would be covered by the U.S. government or private insurers — and caught outside groups and Trump allies by surprise.

The speed with which the order came together — which came after weeks of silence from Trump and the White House on IVF — came with little heads up either to pro-IVF advocates or anti-abortion groups that have been skeptical of Trump’s commitment to their cause.

One of Trump’s closest supporters in Congress was even left in the dark: Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama.