Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) and fellow Democratic colleagues have urged the Trump administration to rescind its proposed rule to reinstate a near-total ban on abortion care and abortion counseling at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As a longtime champion for women veterans’ healthcare, Brownley participated in multiple efforts to underscore the dangers of the rule.
Last month, in direct response to the proposed rule, Brownley introduced the Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act, legislation that would guarantee veterans and eligible dependents the right to receive abortion care, medication, and counseling at VA, without interference from political appointees or partisan agendas and protected by law.
Brownley Joins Women Veteran Advocates on National Press Call
Brownley joined veteran advocates and Democratic Women’s Caucus Servicewomen, Women Veterans, and Military Families Task Force Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) on a national press call coordinated by Free & Just. She spoke directly to the harms the proposed rule would have on women veterans who rely on VA care.
“The administration’s cruel and reckless decision to rescind VA’s already limited abortion protections is an enormous step backward, not only in safeguarding reproductive freedom, but in our broader commitment to our women veterans, who also put their lives on the line to keep us all safe and to defend our freedoms,” said Brownley.
“We know the consequences: women are denied care, doctors are afraid to act, patients are left to suffer, and lives are put in jeopardy,” Brownley continued. “Under this new proposed rule, there is no clear guarantee that women veterans facing miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, or other health-threatening complications will get the care they need. Make no mistake: Donald Trump and his extremist allies are using women veterans to advance an anti-choice, anti-women agenda and inch us closer to a national abortion ban.”
A full recording of the call can be found here.
Brownley Speaks at Joint House & Senate Veterans’ Affairs Press Conference on VA’s Decision to Ban Abortion Care and Counseling
At a press conference with fellow Democratic colleagues on the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees, Brownley emphasized the urgent need to pass the Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act to protect women veterans’ access to reproductive healthcare.
“They claim issues of reproductive health should be left to the states, yet here they are abusing federal power to impose their personal beliefs on veterans nationwide – even in states where abortion is legal,” said Brownley. “This is a direct attack on women veterans’ freedom and bodily autonomy. Veterans should be able to make personal decisions about their health without interference from politicians. Their access to care should not shift with every administration. That is why I introduced the Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act, a bill that will protect abortion access at VA once and for all, ensuring veterans are not subjected to the political whims of whoever happens to occupy the White House.”
“Veterans fought to defend our freedoms. They should not have to fight again for their own healthcare. That is why Congress must act – and act now. Because the lives of women veterans depend on it,” Brownley continued.
A full recording of the press conference can be found here.
Public Comment Letter Opposing Trump Administration’s Proposed Rule
Brownley also joined House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA), Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and 228 colleagues in submitting a public comment letter strongly opposing the proposed rule.
“This incredibly dangerous and reckless rule change will take away essential healthcare for veterans and beneficiaries of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA),” the lawmakers wrote in their public comment letter responding to the proposed rule. “For the past three years, these patients have been able to obtain comprehensive pregnancy counseling, including information about abortion services, and abortion care in cases of rape, incest, or life or health endangerment. This proposed rule seriously calls into question whether the Department is putting political allegiances and culture wars ahead of its sacred obligation to deliver quality, life-saving health care to veterans, including the more than 462,000 women veterans of reproductive age enrolled in VA healthcare.”
The public comment letter can be viewed here.
Additional Background
In September 2022, following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, VA used its rulemaking authority under the Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 to allow VA health care providers to offer abortion counseling and abortion services in cases of rape, incest, and the life and health of the veteran.
Prior to that rule, VA enforced the most restrictive abortion ban of any federal health care agency. The Biden-era policy survived legal challenges and was finalized in March 2023.
On August 4, 2025, the Trump administration issued a proposed rule to repeal the 2022 policy. While the new rule preserves a narrow exception when the life of the pregnant person is at risk, it eliminates VA’s ability to provide abortion care in nearly all other cases. If implemented, the rule would once again make the VA the only major federal health provider with such an extreme restriction.
In response to the Trump administration’s proposed rule, Brownley introduced the Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act, legislation that would end the uncertainty created by shifting agency policies and eliminate ambiguity in the rulemaking process when it comes to veterans’ health care. It would enshrine in law a veteran’s right to access abortion care at VA, ensuring that reproductive health services are not subject to the personal views or political agendas of any future Secretary or administration. Veterans deserve consistent, guaranteed access to the care they’ve earned and not a patchwork of policies that change with every administration.
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Issues: 119th Congress, Healthcare, Veterans' Affairs