Veterans Affairs Department reinstates abortion ban

The Veterans Affairs Department is reinstating a near-total abortion ban for veterans and their families following a Justice Department memo deeming such services illegal under federal law. VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz confirmed compliance with the DOJ’s opinion, which aligns with the VA’s proposed rule that excludes abortion from medical benefits, except in life-threatening situations. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, condemned the move as an attack on reproductive rights, particularly affecting veterans and survivors of military sexual trauma. The Center for Reproductive Rights labeled the policy a national abortion ban for veterans, inhibiting access across all states, including those with protective laws.

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