The Department of Veterans Affairs is moving to roll back an abortion access policy at VA hospitals first established under the Biden administration.

According to The Christian Post, a new rule proposed Monday would reverse the 2022 decision allowing VA facilities to provide abortions in limited cases, citing legal constraints and a return to longstanding federal policy.

The proposal, published in the Federal Register, was approved by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins on July 24. It follows President Donald Trump's directive to overturn a Biden-era rule permitting abortions at VA hospitals in cases of rape, incest, or when a pregnancy endangered the mother's life.

The 2022 policy came in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and paved the way for restrictive abortion laws across several states. In its aftermath, the VA permitted services even in states with near-total abortion bans, citing the need to protect veterans’ health and safety under those exceptional circumstances.

However, the Trump administration argues that the 2022 regulation was not only a departure from past VA practices but also lacked legal backing. The proposed rule asserts that Congress explicitly excluded abortion services from the VA’s reproductive health coverage under section 106 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992.

Legal Foundation Cited for Proposed Reversal

The VA's proposed rule states that the 1992 law permits the department to offer general reproductive care. However, it also says the statute does not allow services such as infertility treatments, abortion procedures or pregnancy care like prenatal and delivery assistance.

Officials emphasized that medical treatment for life-threatening pregnancy conditions was always included in veterans’ care. This includes interventions for miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies, which the VA maintained as part of its medical benefits before the 2022 shift.

In the proposed rule, the VA noted that the exception for life-threatening situations remains intact. The department reaffirmed that procedures to protect a mother's life—such as treating an ectopic pregnancy—are not banned under state laws and have never been considered abortions under VA policy.

Pro-Life Advocates Applaud the Change

Prominent anti-abortion groups welcomed the administration’s decision. They framed the reversal as a move to uphold federal law and return to a policy that prioritizes care without taxpayer-funded abortion services.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, praised the administration's action, calling it a restoration of legal norms. She criticized the previous rule as a violation of both state laws and the rights of taxpayers opposed to funding abortion care at federal institutions.

Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, echoed that sentiment. She said the proposed revision represents a commitment to life-affirming care and criticized the Biden-era policy for allegedly disregarding congressional intent and public opinion.

Public Comment Period Underway Through September

The proposed rollback has begun its formal review through a public comment period, as required by federal regulatory processes. Members of the public have until September 3 to submit feedback on the rule through the Federal Register before it can move closer to implementation.

The VA's announcement underscores ongoing legal and ethical debates around reproductive health access for veterans in a post-Dobbs landscape. While some advocates say the 2022 emergency provisions protected the most medically vulnerable, others argue they went beyond the VA’s authorized scope.

This latest move by the Trump administration places the VA in the broader national conversation about federal authority, abortion access, and veterans' healthcare services as state abortion laws continue to evolve.

Implications for Abortion Services at VA Facilities

If finalized, the rule would eliminate abortion and abortion counseling once again from VA hospitals, even in cases of rape or incest. In practice, this would bring VA facilities in line with the 1992 policy limits, with only life-threatening pregnancies considered eligible for intervention.

Veterans advocates and legal experts are watching closely to see how the change may affect healthcare delivery, particularly in states with the strictest abortion laws. Although care for miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies will reportedly remain available, questions persist about how VA physicians will navigate complex emergency cases moving forward.

The rule's advancement represents a clear policy shift in veterans’ reproductive healthcare under the Trump administration, setting up potential legal and political debates amid a contentious national election year.