The Trump administration has proposed new rules that would bar doctors at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from performing abortions, even in cases of rape and incest. The draft regulations also prohibit providers from counselling female veterans about terminating a pregnancy.
The proposed rules have generated nearly 20,000 comments from conservative activists, abortion rights supporters, and female veterans, many of whom are survivors of sexual assault. One veteran, Mary Dodson-Otten, said her abortion saved her life after she became pregnant by an abusive partner who was a fellow service member.
Under the new rule, the only exception is when a physician certifies that the mother's life is endangered. However, abortion rights advocates argue the exception is too narrow. Caitlin Russell, a former US army captain, warned that women would die as a result.
Sexual assault remains endemic in the military, with about one in three women veterans reporting forced sexual activity while in uniform. Additionally, VA researchers found one in three female veterans experience intimate partner violence, a rate far higher than among non-veterans.
The rules were described as "unsafe and cruel" by Rita Graham, a former US army artillery officer. The VA has only provided abortions under limited circumstances since 2022, following a policy change by the Biden administration. The comment period runs until 3 September.
