Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined in a letter spearheaded by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) demanding the restoration of abortion services at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
In August, the Trump Administration overturned a 2022 policy implemented by the Biden Administration, which authorized the provision of abortions through the VA in cases of rape and incest, but remains in place if a physician certifies that carrying a pregnancy to term would endanger the mother's life. Additionally, abortion counseling would be banned.
The Trump Administration further claimed that the Biden-era policy was legally dubious and only resulted in 140 abortions, making it redundant.
Sen. Gallego and other Democrats beg to differ.
"This incredibly dangerous and reckless rule change will take away essential health care for veterans and beneficiaries of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)," the senators wrote, adding, "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 health care," they added.
As a result, the Democrat senators demanded the reinstitution of the Biden policy, affirming, "the concerns we raise about this cruel proposal to roll back essential health care for veterans are not ours alone – they are shared by veterans and their families nationwide… Since the Dobbs decision, more than half of women veterans and CHAMPVA beneficiaries of reproductive age live in states that have enacted abortion bans or restrictions."
"Should their health be in jeopardy due to a pregnancy, or if they are raped, this rule will leave them with nowhere to turn. To finalize this rule will be a failure for our veterans, and we urge the Department to reconsider," the letter concluded.
