(NewsNation) — The Department of Veterans Affairs announced earlier this week it has reinstated its ban on abortion services for veterans and their dependents.
The decision comes after the Justice Department concluded the agency lacks legal authority to provide the procedure, including in cases of rape or incest.
“The Department of Justice’s opinion states that VA is not legally authorized to provide abortions, and VA is complying with it immediately,” Veterans Affairs press secretary Pete Kasperowicz said.
In August, the Dept. of Veterans Affairs proposed to reinstate the full exclusion on abortions and abortion counseling from the medical benefits package after a new policy was adopted during the Biden administration. President Trump at the time said the VA “has never understood this policy to prohibit providing care to pregnant women in life-threatening circumstances, including treatment for ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages.”
The revised restrictions took effect immediately.
The Department of Veterans Affairs serves nearly 10 million veterans each year while also operating approximately 1,380 health care facilities in the United States.
