WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs has imposed a ban on most abortions, ending a Biden administration policy that made exceptions in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s health was at risk.
The move was immediately condemned by several Democratic lawmakers who accused the VA of trying to avoid public scrutiny in bypassing the formal rule change process.
“A policy issued by VA Secretary [Doug] Collins stops this reproductive care even for women who are victims of rape or incest, or whose health is at risk. He’s done it by internal memo, not by open rule making, avoiding public attention and scrutiny,” said Rep. Richard Blumenthal, of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Abortions now will be provided only when a physician certifies that the life of the mother is endangered if the fetus is carried to term, according to the VA.
Under former President Joe Biden’s administration, the VA had been providing abortions since September 2022 in limited circumstances.
About 100 to 140 abortions were provided by the VA since 2022, according to the VA. The number is far fewer than the 1,000 that the Biden administration had projected.
President Donald Trump’s administration initially proposed reinstating abortion restrictions as a rule change, which it announced in the Federal Register in August.
But the administration did not wait for the internal regulation to be finalized and published, which was expected soon. The rule-change process includes a public comment period, a review of comments and revisions as needed.
The VA said it was reinstating the abortion restrictions based on an opinion from the Justice Department.
“DOJ’s opinion states that VA is not legally authorized to provide abortions, and VA is complying with it immediately,” said Peter Kasperowicz, VA press secretary. “DOJ’s opinion is consistent with VA’s proposed rule, which continues to work its way through the regulatory process.”
The VA website, however, continues to list abortion as a service offered at VA facilities under limited circumstances.
Democratic lawmakers were quick to oppose the change, and many Republicans voiced their support.
“This back-door move by the Trump administration to impose a near-total abortion ban at VA is an outrageous assault on veterans health care and a profound betrayal of veterans who have put their lives on the line for our country,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
But Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., who is chairman of the House Veterans Affairs’ Committee, said it was wrong for the Biden administration to offer abortion services at the VA. Bost said that taxpayer funds should not be used to pay for abortions.
The near-total ban on abortions is effective immediately. The restrictions extend to all VA health facilities, including hospitals and clinics located in states where abortion services are legal, the VA said.
Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., has introduced legislation to overturn the new restrictions.
The Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act would guarantee veterans and their eligible family members “a protected legal right” to receive abortion services from the VA. The bill has collected 118 co-sponsors and was referred to the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health.
Brownley is the top Democrat on the subcommittee. A hearing on the bill has not been scheduled.
The proposed rule change also received more than 24,000 public comments in August and September, after it was posted to the Federal Register.
A female Air Force veteran — who declined to give her name — wrote that “stripping away care of any kind away from women is a danger. … Women shouldn’t have to be on life-support in order to receive the care that they need.”
But Christine Andrusiewicz, another commenter, wrote that when the Biden administration eased restrictions, it “increased the likelihood that female veterans may be pressured or steered toward abortion, all at taxpayers’ expense.”
This story was originally published by Stars and Stripes on December 30, 2025.
Issues: 119th Congress, Healthcare, Veterans' Affairs