During President Joe Biden’s tenure, Townhall covered how the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) worked behind-the-scenes to promote abortion. This included training that claimed that men could get pregnant.
As Townhall covered, the training claimed that “not all people who seek abortions identify as women” and that the term “pregnant person” should be used instead of “pregnant woman.” This was during Biden’s promised “whole-of-government” approach to push for abortion rights.
This week, reports indicated that many Biden-era abortion policies impacting the VA may be reversed. This includes an “essential” pro-abortion policy that was implemented in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade (via The Washington Post):
In its filing Friday, the Trump administration called the 2022 rule change “inappropriate” and “legally questionable.” The Trump team’s move to once again restrict abortion access has received praise from conservatives who staunchly oppose federal funding for abortion services of any kind. VA said it would continue to provide care to pregnant patients in life-threatening circumstances.
Lindsay Church, executive director of Minority Veterans of America, which pushed against the proposal, worries that if the new abortion rule takes effect, it would push veterans away from receiving health care through VA.
“If you were a veteran, what would you choose?” Church said. “I wouldn’t choose the institution that told me that I absolutely have to be dying. I would go anywhere else.”
A spokesperson for the VA called the Biden-era pro-abortion policy "politically motivated.”
Trump’s proposed rule will be open for a 30-day public comment period. Public comment closes on Sept. 3 and the final rule could be implemented any time after.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America reacted to the new development.
“We thank President Trump and VA Secretary Collins for restoring the rule of law and ending the Biden Administration’s illegal policy that forced taxpayers to fund abortions through VA hospitals and violated state pro-life laws,” a statement from the organization said.
“Instead of prioritizing the real and urgent needs of our veterans, the Biden-Harris Administration turned VA hospitals into abortion centers – violating longstanding law and betraying the will of the American people who strongly oppose forced taxpayer-funded abortions. Veterans deserve compassionate care and healing and should not be subjected to the violence of abortion. The American people should never have been made to bankroll it. Thankfully this injustice is now corrected,” the statement added.
MAJOR WIN: The Trump Admin is set to rescind the Biden-era Veterans Affairs policy that pushed illegal abortions. This is a major pro-life win and a step toward restoring the rule of law.
— SBA Pro-Life America (@sbaprolife) August 1, 2025
Another victory following the One Big Beautiful Bill.https://t.co/aSSAZctGFn pic.twitter.com/K70FgyiBTr
