The National Women’s Law Center submitted a public comment on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) interim final rule (IFR) on “Reproductive Health Services” which was released on September 2nd, 2022. Previously, VA regulations banned abortion care and counseling without exception. The new VA regulation allows veterans and eligible family members and caretakers to access abortion care through VA in cases of rape, incest, and in cases of life or health endangerment of the pregnant person.

The Department’s rule eliminates harmful barriers to essential health care at VA. Access to abortion is necessary for the health and safety of veterans – and for all people – to determine their futures. The Department’s IFR is a critical action to ensure that veterans can obtain the abortion care they need, which is critical at all times but especially in this moment of unprecedented crisis in abortion access.