U.S. Repro Watch provides periodic updates of news of interest on U.S. reproductive rights. Here are six recent updates you won’t want to miss:

Veterans sue Trump admin

1. Veterans sued the Trump administration for reinstating an abortion ban.

• The lawsuit challenges a policy reinstated last year, banning veterans from using Veterans Affairs’ (VA) healthcare for abortions or abortion counseling—including in cases of rape, incest, or to save the health of the pregnant person.
• One plaintiff is a pregnant veteran with chronic health conditions facing deteriorating health. She said her VA providers cannot discuss her full range of options or provide an abortion, even if her health is at risk.

IA bans telehealth abortion pill access

2. Iowa enacted a law banning access to abortion pills via telemedicine.

• The new law, which will take effect on July 1, forces people to get abortion pills in-person at a clinic instead of at a pharmacy or through the mail via telemedicine.
• This means Iowans will have to travel to one of three clinics in the state to get abortion pills–before the state’s six-week cut off.

NC lawmakers propose extreme ban

3. North Carolina lawmakers proposed an extreme abortion ban that would bestow embryos with the same rights as people.

• The bill would ban abortion entirely in North Carolina and create criminal penalties for pregnant people seeking abortions.
• It has sparked significant public backlash, leading one Republican lawmaker to remove himself as a sponsor shortly after the bill was introduced.
• This legislation reflects a growing push by anti-abortion politicians to make abortion bans more extreme, and with harsher criminal penalties.

AR judge revives challenge to state ban

4. An Arkansas judge revived a challenge to the state’s total abortion ban.

• The lawsuit argues Arkansas’ abortion ban violates the state constitution and endangers pregnant people experiencing medical emergencies and pregnancy complications.
• The woman at the center of the lawsuit–Emily Waldorf–spent four days miscarrying in the hospital as doctors refused to help end her pregnancy. She finally drove four hours to Kansas to get the abortion she needed.
• The lawsuit comes amid growing scrutiny over the impact of abortion bans on emergency treatment for pregnant people across the country.

Judge blocks Trump’s payouts

5. A judge blocked Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund payouts, for now.

• The fund would compensate people who claim they were targeted with politically motivated prosecutions by prior presidential administrations. It explicitly identifies anti-abortion extremists convicted of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act as potential recipients.
• Multiple lawsuits have been filed challenging the fund, including one by the National Abortion Federation.
• Their lawsuit argues that the program unlawfully rewards individuals convicted of violence and intimidation against abortion clinics, providers, and patients.

GA justice candidates fight over abortion free speech

6. Candidates for Georgia’s Supreme Court battled over free speech on abortion rights.

• A day before state elections, Georgia’s judicial watchdog publicly accused Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin of violating judicial conduct rules by campaigning on abortion rights.
• The two candidates challenged the allegations, arguing that the group is violating their right to free speech. They asked the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this week to step in.
• Jordan and Rankin ultimately lost their races, but there have been several state supreme court candidates in other states that have campaigned on abortion rights and won—most recently in Wisconsin.

Did you know?

Did you know?

Abortion providers are facing increased threats of violence and harassment. Death threats and stalking increased 113% in 2024 and 111% in 2025. The surge is partly attributed to the polarizing political rhetoric nationwide. In the last year, the Trump administration said they will no longer enforce the FACE Act to protect abortion clinics, pardoned violent anti-abortion protestors who were convicted of violating the federal law, and even fired several attorneys responsible for prosecuting extremists.

New research shows abortion bans are worsening miscarriage care across the country. A recent JAMA study found patients experiencing miscarriages in states with abortion bans were less likely to receive the standard-of-care treatment and more likely to face delays, at times miscarrying over many hours or days without medical intervention. Physicians say abortion restrictions are creating confusion and fear of legal liability because miscarriage care involves the same medications and procedures used in abortion care.

Coming up

Coming up

June 7: Griswold v. Connecticut 61st Anniversary

• June 7th marks over 60 years since the Supreme Court recognized the constitutional right to contraception.
• Since taking office, President Trump has been gutting access to birth control in the U.S. and across the world. The Trump administration froze millions of dollars in Title X funds for low-cost birth control, has spread misinformation by falsely calling birth control an “abortifacient,” and is heavily pushing “natural family planning” over contraception.

Learn more