Veterans Affairs Department reimposing near total abortion ban

The Veterans Affairs Department is reimposing a near total ban on abortions for veterans and their families after a Justice Department memo from the Office of Legal Counsel last week asserted that it’s against federal law for the VA to provide them in most instances.

VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz told CBS News, “The Department of Justice’s opinion states that VA is not legally authorized to provide abortions, and VA is complying with it immediately. DOJ’s opinion is consistent with VA’s proposed rule, which continues to work its way through the regulatory process.”

In 2022, the department modified its 1999 abortion rules to allow “access to abortions when the life or health of the pregnant Veteran would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term, or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest,” the VA website states.

Now, under the guidance given by the Office of Legal Counsel, the VA’s proposed rule reinstates “the full exclusion on abortions and abortion counseling from the medical benefi...