VA Plans to Revert Abortion Policy to Pre-Biden Standards
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is on the brink of reversing a policy dating back to the Biden administration, which permitted abortions under specific conditions within VA-affiliated hospitals. This move aligns with a proposed rule announced last month aimed at rescinding the policy, and the period for public comment concluded recently.
A VA spokesperson characterized the Biden-era policy as a departure from the department’s traditional stance, describing it as a “politically motivated change” from a long-standing precedent against providing abortions.
“Prior to the Biden Administration’s politically motivated change in 2022, federal law and longstanding precedent across Democrat and Republican administrations prevented VA from providing abortions and abortion counseling,” the spokesperson remarked. “VA’s proposed rule will reinstate the pre-Biden bipartisan policy, bringing the department back in line with historical norm.”
The spokesperson further noted that the VA is committed to adhering to the standard rulemaking process by reviewing all public comments before finalizing any changes. They emphasized that the department will continue providing care in life-threatening situations for pregnant women.
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson in 2022, the Biden administration had introduced an interim rule allowing VA hospitals to offer abortions in cases of rape, incest, or medical emergencies. This was a response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which had protected abortion rights since 1973.
Denis McDonough, then VA secretary, justified the rule as a “patient safety decision,” stating, “Pregnant Veterans and VA beneficiaries deserve to have access to world-class reproductive care when they need it most. That’s what our nation owes them, and that’s what we at VA will deliver.”
However, opposition existed at the time, with Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., sending a letter to McDonough expressing his criticism. Lankford argued that a 1992 federal law prohibited the VA from offering abortions, asserting, “Only Congress can change federal law, and Congress has held for the past 30 years that the VA is not permitted to offer abortion services. Abortion is not and will never be healthcare. Healthcare protects life. Abortion takes life.”
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
