NWLC Responds to Trump’s Latest Policies Targeting Abortion Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 24) — The Trump administration’s acting Attorney General tonight announced that the Justice Department would no longer enforce the federal civil rights law currently protecting clinics, staff, and patients from danger. This means they are no longer shielded from harassment, threats, and violence — giving a free pass to extremists seeking to deliberately interfere with people seeking essential health care and putting the safety of providers and patients at serious risk.
Also this evening, President Donald Trump issued two executive orders targeting abortion rights. The first order reinstated the global gag rule, which prohibits U.S. foreign aid from supporting organizations that provide or promote abortion, even in nations where it is legal and even when those services are provided with non-U.S. dollars. The second rescinded the executive orders issued by the Biden administration in the immediate aftermath of the Dobbs decision that sought to protect abortion access amid the unfolding reproductive health care crisis.
“With tonight’s actions, the new administration doubled down on its plans to restrict abortion access. It also is blatantly opening up abortion providers and seekers to harassment and threats by anti-abortion zealots who break the law,” said Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center. “Trump’s orders make the agenda clear — this administration will dismantle abortion access both here in the U.S. and abroad. But we know the vast majority of Americans support abortion access — and we will continue to take that stand.”
Trump’s actions come hours after he issued pardons to nearly two dozen people convicted of federal civil rights offenses for using physical force to block access to and invade abortion clinics, hounding, threatening, and injuring clinic staff and patients.