Trump administration sued by veterans after banning VA abortion access
The lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, argues the administration violated the Administrative Procedures Act by revoking a Biden-era policy that gave veterans access to abortion nationwide.
In December, the Department of Justice issued a legal opinion that effectively restricted abortion access at the VA. The department abided by the new policy, which blocks all abortions, including in cases of rape, incest, or serious health risks involving the pregnant mother.
The Biden administration provided exceptions for abortion under those circumstances, starting in 2022. Before then, the VA did not offer abortions.
Minority Veterans of America, the lead plaintiff, finds the new abortion restrictions troubling.
“Military service members undertake significant personal sacrifices — including risks to their lives and health, immense physical and mental strain, and time away from their loved ones — to serve and protect our country,” the 64-page lawsuit states. “When those individuals return home from service, our nation promises to provide them and their families with quality, comprehensive and equitable health care as befits those profound sacrifices.”
“The decision by the VA to eliminate abortion care and abortion counseling from the health care provided to veterans and their families is a betrayal of this promise,” it adds. “This essential medical care is particularly important for veterans and their families, yet VA has imposed a ban on abortion services that is the strictest in the entire federal government.”
The federal abortion ban applies across all states, even if a state has legalized abortion. The VA is the federal government’s largest integrated healthcare provider, serving over 9 million enrolled veterans per year at 1,380 healthcare facilities across all 50 states.
The lawsuit asks the federal court to “set aside” the legal opinion that forced the VA to eliminate its abortion-related services and to deem the policy unlawful.
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