Introduction

We’re highlighting the most harmful executive attacks on reproductive rights, the impact of these attacks on people’s health, and what to expect in 2026.

Through the flood of executive action, a few consistent themes have emerged: from cutting off access to abortion and contraception, to threatening patients and providers with unchecked violence and criminalization, reproductive rights are in danger.

Download the report here.

Removing protections

Theme #1: Removing nationwide protections for abortion

The U.S. health care system is in crisis. But instead of supporting patients and providers, the administration is gutting the few protections they have, including emergency abortion care guidance, safety from health center violence, and data privacy rules. 

What’s next? Misuse of the Comstock Act.

Attacking access

Theme #2: Attacking abortion access in states where it is legal 

Despite vowing to leave abortion to the states, the administration has cut off abortion options in states that protect those rights. The results of these slashes to veterans health care, Medicaid health coverage, and the Title X family planning program sweep beyond abortion, with huge impacts on pregnancy, primary care, and more.  

What’s next? More defunding.

Sowing distrust

Theme #3: Sowing distrust in proven science to justify restricting abortion, birth control, and IVF 

Junk science proponents in the administration are falsely painting reproductive health care as dangerous, misleading, and ineffective, despite overwhelming scientific consensus to the contrary. These tactics lay the groundwork to further limit abortion pills and to put new restrictions on birth control and assisted reproductive technology like in vitro fertilization (IVF). 

What’s next? Abortion pill restrictions.

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