Department of Veterans Affairs Halts Abortion Services Nationwide
The VA has reinstated a nationwide ban on abortion services following a Justice Department opinion reaffirming federal law.
WASHINGTON, DC — The Department of Veterans Affairs has halted the performance of abortions at its facilities nationwide, citing compliance with a Justice Department opinion that reinstates longstanding federal prohibitions on taxpayer-funded abortions for veterans.
The decision, effective immediately, reverses a 2022 policy adopted under the Biden administration that allowed VA physicians to provide abortion services. VA officials said the earlier change departed from decades of precedent observed by both Democratic and Republican administrations.
A Justice Department opinion issued last year concluded that existing law does not authorize the VA to provide abortions under Title 38, while preserving its authority to offer infertility services and authorized pregnancy care. The shift aligns with the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, which generally prohibits abortions except in limited circumstances.
Pro-life organizations praised the move, while religious leaders reiterated concerns about conscience protections. The policy affects a nationwide VA system serving more than 9 million enrolled veterans and restores coverage rules in place since 1999.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Trump's call for flexibility on Hyde sparked a pro-life backlash.
