Overview
- The VA’s interim rule proposes revoking the September 2022 policy that allowed physicians to perform abortions for rape, incest and life-threatening pregnancies on federal property.
- The proposal preserves access to life-saving treatment for ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages but redirects veterans seeking abortions to external providers.
- Department statistics indicate about 100 veterans and 40 CHAMPVA beneficiaries used VA abortion services annually, significantly lower than the Biden administration’s projections.
- Public comments on the Federal Register notice are due by early September before the VA reviews feedback and finalizes the rule.
- Republican lawmakers and pro-life groups hailed the change as a return to historical legal norms and fiscal stewardship, while Democrats and reproductive-rights advocates criticized it for restricting veterans’ healthcare access.