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Trump Administration Proposes Ending Most Abortions at VA Medical Facilities

Opening a public comment period until early September, the VA’s interim rule would strip hospitals of authority to provide abortions in nearly all circumstances.

FILE - Abortion-rights activists demonstrate against the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade that established a constitutional right to abortion, on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 30, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
FILE - Anti-abortion protesters rally outside of the Supreme Court, June 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, file)
FILE - An anti-abortion supporter sits behind a sign that advises the Jackson Women's Health Organization clinic is still open in Jackson, Miss., July 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Stock image/file photo: Signboard of United States Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington DC.

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.