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Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026

Did the Trump administration ban abortion-related services for VA hospital patients?

Tallulah Anne, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
yes

In December 2025, the Trump administration largely banned the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from providing abortion services, reversing a Biden-era policy that had allowed VA providers to offer abortion care and counseling in limited circumstances. 

Under the change, VA facilities may provide abortions only in narrowly defined, life-threatening emergencies. The administration has confirmed that prior exceptions for rape and incest no longer apply. 

The policy affects veterans and their dependents nationwide, including in states where abortion is otherwise legally protected, and was implemented through internal VA guidance rather than legislation or a formal rulemaking process. Arizona, home to a large veteran population, is directly affected: The VA Phoenix Health Care System alone serves more than 139,000 veterans across central Arizona. 

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