(Ezekiel Loseke, Headline USA) The Department of Veterans Affairs released a new rule regarding abortion on Thursday night; the new rule states that VA hospitals will provide abortions “regardless of state regulations,” according to Axios.
A news release published by the VA Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs stated that the new rule “will allow VA to provide access to abortion counseling and — in certain cases — abortions to pregnant Veterans and VA beneficiaries.”
The news release continued, “Once the rule is published, VA will immediately prepare to provide these services in as many locations as possible.”
The VA’s Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Shereef Elnahal, contributed to the press release. She said, “we came to this decision after listening to VA health care providers and veterans across the country.” Elnahal reported that veterans and VA bureaucrats “sounded the alarm that abortion restrictions are creating a medical emergency for those we serve.”
The VA said its new policy was needed because several states have banned or restricted abortion following this summer’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, per Axios.
The new rule states that the VA will determine who it provides abortions for on a case-by-case basis. The VA said the process would include “careful consultation between VA health care providers and the Veterans they serve.”
The reported new policy is somewhat limited. The VA press release reads, “Specifically, VA will provide access to abortions when the life or health of the pregnant Veteran would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term, or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.”
The VA will continue to coordinate services with private abortion providers where abortion is not banned, according to Axios.
The VA ignoring state regulations banning abortion is just the latest attempt by the federal government to skirt abortion bans. Other attempts include:
- A Clinton-appointed Federal Judge partially blocked Idaho’s abortion ban
- The Justice Department sued Idaho over its abortion ban
- The Biden Administration told hospitals they must provide abortions in some instances
- The Army suspended a soldier for taking a stance against abortion
- The Department of Health and Human Services created a website to facilitate baby-slaughter-tourism and connect mothers seeking to kill their children with funding for infanticide
