Attempts to Work Around Abortion Bans Test 14th Amendment Scope

The Department of Veterans Affairs said it will provide abortion counseling and, in certain limited circumstances, abortions, to pregnant veterans and VA beneficiaries at federal health-care centers “in as many locations as possible,” even where those centers are located within states where abortions are otherwise banned.

Once published, the VA’s new rule will be effective immediately, followed by a 30-day comment period.

But even if federal law authorizes the VA to provide abortion-related care at federal facilities, providers and beneficiaries may still be deterred by the threat of enforcement under their state’s civil or criminal abortion laws when they ...