The administration is installing anti-abortion extremists in key federal agencies to ban abortion nationwide.
WASHINGTON, DC –– This Veterans Day, nearly 460,000 women veterans lack access to abortion care as a direct result of Trump and his extremist administration. Almost one year ago, the Trump administration covertly banned abortion care for women veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities, rolling back critical Biden-era protections. The policy blocks access to abortion care and counseling through the VA. Even in cases of rape, incest, or medical emergencies.
This move by the administration is only a single piece in a larger, more dangerous puzzle. Right now, anti-abortion extremists are targeting medication abortion: the safest, most popular, and accessible method of abortion for women and patients across the country.
Anti-abortion extremists are being positioned to further escalate attacks on abortion access. Right now, they’re pushing the FDA to revoke approval of medication abortion via Heidi Overton getting confirmed to lead the agency. Furthermore, Attorney General Todd Blanche is actively conspiring to "make Dobbs permanent.”
Gowri Buddiga, Campaign Director of Free & Just, released the following statement marking Veterans Day:
“It is shameful that on a day when we honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans, the Trump administration is actively stripping them of their reproductive freedom by banning abortion care through the VA. The administration isn’t stopping there: Trump and his allies, including anti-abortion extremists being considered for federal positions, are working overtime to advance a nationwide abortion ban. Veterans deserve better than an administration that uses its power to deny them essential health care, and the VA’s abortion care protections must be restored immediately.”
From weaponizing federal agencies to roll back access to medication abortion, to sneaking new national abortion restrictions into critical health care legislation and undermining federal protections for lifesaving care, the consequences of ongoing attacks on reproductive freedom are deadly and will impact everyone.
If you are interested in speaking to storytellers about the impacts of the administration's attacks on abortion care for veterans, please contact Malachi White, malachi@freeandjust.us.
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Free & Just is fighting to stop attacks on reproductive freedom and rights. We’re working with people across the country to share real stories to show the devastating consequences of attacks on our reproductive freedom. We all deserve the right to control our bodies and lives. That’s why we’re sharing our stories, raising our voices, and fighting for our future.