The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published its proposed rule banning abortion counseling and abortion care even in cases of rape, incest, or where the health of the veteran is endangered. Once finalized, this rule would claw back the exceptions created in 2022 that allowed VA health care providers to provide abortion counseling and abortion care in limited circumstances.  

If the rule is finalized as drafted, the administration will be enacting one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation. For veterans living in the 12 states that ban abortion, it would further close off what may be their only opportunity to access urgently needed abortion care. Abortion is essential health care, no matter the reason it is sought, and medically unnecessary restrictions like those found in this proposed rule inherently deny pregnant people the freedom to make decisions about their social, economic, mental, and physical well-being. Read our full statement here.