Print 
PDF
Pro-life groups are celebrating President Donald Trump's decision to reverse a Biden-era policy that allowed abortions to be performed at taxpayer-funded veterans' hospitals.
In a proposed rule published in the Federal Register on Monday, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs announced plans to reverse a rule implemented by the Biden administration that authorized taxpayer-funded VA hospitals to perform abortions and provide abortion counseling in cases of rape and incest, as well as in instances where the mother is experiencing a medical emergency.
Be informed, not misled.
The Biden-era rule was implemented in 2022, shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson decision resulted in several states passing near-total abortion bans. The rule enabled VA hospitals in states with near-total abortion bans to perform abortions in the indicated cases.
The Christian Post reports, “We believe the 2022 interim final rule was not only inappropriate as a matter of fact but also was legally questionable. The only time Congress has specifically addressed VA's authority to provide abortions was in 1992 in section 106 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992,” the proposed rule states."
The Post continues, "The proposal adds that the law authorized the VA to provide 'general reproductive health care' but specifically excluded 'infertility services, abortions, or pregnancy care (including prenatal and delivery care).”
And the Post says, "It further clarifies that the VA has never understood this policy to prohibit providing care to pregnant women in life-threatening circumstances, including treatment for ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages, which were covered under the VA's medical benefits package prior to the 2022” policy change.
“The exclusion for abortion does not apply ‘when a physician certifies that the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term,’” the proposed rule continues, stressing, “No State law prohibits treatment for ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages to save the life of a mother.”
The proposed rule was approved by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins on July 24. Federal law requires a 30-day public comment period for proposed rules published in the Federal Register. That window is set to expire on Sept. 3.
Pro-Life Groups are praising Trump.
In a published statement, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said, "Today, the Trump administration published a proposed rule to rescind the Biden-era Veterans Affairs policy that pushed illegal abortions at VA hospitals – flouting longstanding federal law and intentionally violating state pro-life laws. The policy was so extreme that videos obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs showed staff being trained to push statutorily prohibited abortion as the safest 'option' for veterans."
She continued:
This marks yet another major pro-life victory under President Trump’s leadership, building on a series of decisive actions, including the recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act which stopped forced taxpayer funding of Big Abortion.
“We thank President Trump and VA Secretary Collins for restoring the rule of law and ending the Biden Administration’s illegal policy that forced taxpayers to fund abortions through VA hospitals and violated state pro-life laws.
“Instead of prioritizing the real and urgent needs of our veterans, the Biden-Harris Administration turned VA hospitals into abortion centers – violating longstanding law and betraying the will of the American people who strongly oppose forced taxpayer-funded abortions. Veterans deserve compassionate care and healing and should not be subjected to the violence of abortion. The American people should never have been made to bankroll it. Thankfully, this injustice is now corrected.”
National Right to Life President Carol Tobias added in a statement Friday that the proposed rule "reflects a return to longstanding policy and a reaffirmation of the department’s mission to provide life-affirming, medically necessary care to our veterans and their families.”
She said, “Abortion is not health care. The Trump administration is right to restore protections that prevent the use of taxpayer dollars to end the lives of unborn children.”
Tobias expressed gratitude for the “welcome correction to the overreach by the pro-abortion Biden administration that bypassed Congress and ignored the clear will of the American people.”
Takeaway
The media is once again bemoaning the fact that Trump is causing women to lose their free reproductive healthcare. Aka, free abortions funded by taxpayers.
Two things to keep in mind:
- “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” (Jeremiah 1:5).
- “Thou shall not kill!” (Exodus 20:13).
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Engaged. Be Faithful. Be Prayerful.
