It also allowed the VA to provide abortions under specific circumstances, including in cases of rape, incest or when the veteran’s health was at risk due to the pregnancy. AdvertisementThe proposed rule change, authorized by Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, would end those exceptions, only allowing abortion in life-threatening circumstances such as ectopic pregnancies. The group notes thousands of trans and non-binary veterans in these states may also need access to abortion care. The Trump administration, meanwhile, argues that the Biden rule overreached by expanding veterans’ medical benefits package to include abortion care. “For decades, VA had consistently interpreted abortion services as not ‘needed’ medical services,” reads the rule change proposal.
