The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR), led by Paula Stannard, took numerous enforcement actions aimed at limiting access to abortion and other reproductive health care, including: 

• Issuing a “Notice of Violation” to the state of Illinois, alleging a state law that requires referrals for abortion violates the Weldon and Coats-Snowe Amendments, (two federal health care refusals laws). OCR is threatening to withhold federal funding if Illinois enforces this state law.
• Issuing a nationwide “Dear Colleague Letter” summarizing the Trump administration’s commitment to “vigorous enforcement” of federal health care refusals statutes, including laws specific to abortion and sterilization. 
• Rescinding key guidance documents issued during the Biden administration that OCR claims are not in alignment with the Trump administration’s interpretation of federal law.