The Trump administration on Friday rescinded a Biden-era rule that allowed veterans to receive abortion services through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The 2022 rule, which provided abortion counseling and limited abortion care to qualifying veterans and VA beneficiaries, was reversed in a scheduled notice to the Federal Register.
“We take this action to ensure that VA provides only needed medical services to our nation’s heroes and their families,” the department wrote. Officials cited concern over taxpayer funding and legal authority as reasons for the reversal.
The department confirmed it would still allow abortions in cases of life-threatening pregnancies or when treating ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages.
Republican lawmakers praised the decision. “We pushed back hard on this disastrous policy… taxpayers do not want their hard-earned money spent on paying for abortions,” said Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Mike Bost and five House Republicans in a joint statement.
Critics, however, called the move dangerous. “Abortion is health care,” said Katie O’Connor of the National Women’s Law Center. “This move only deepens the crisis created by cruel abortion bans.”
O’Connor said restricting care for veterans—many of whom suffer from PTSD or trauma—jeopardizes their health and safety.
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
