Analysis: Trump Administration's Potential Impact on Abortion Access in the U.S.

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
07/11/2024 21h03

**Trump's Presidency Could Threaten Abortion Access Despite Voter Support**

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, health policy experts express concerns that his administration could severely restrict abortion rights, leaving many women in the United States in a vulnerable position. Despite voters in seven out of ten states approving measures to protect abortion access, Trump's rise to power may lead to significant federal limitations on the procedure.

Katie O'Connor from the National Women's Law Center highlighted the potential negative health outcomes resulting from increased restrictions on abortion, noting unnecessary suffering and fatalities. Since the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, abortion access has already become more restrictive, affecting over 25 million women aged 15 to 44, as reported by PBS.

Given Trump's inconsistent stance on abortion, the specific actions his administration might take remain uncertain. However, experts suggest he could enforce the long-dormant Comstock Act of 1873, which prohibits the mailing of abortion-related drugs and materials. This could significantly hinder the distribution of abortion pills, which accounted for 63% of all abortions in the U.S. last year, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

An aggressive push could also come from appointing anti-abortion leaders to key federal agencies such as the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services. These agencies could implement policies to limit or even ban abortion medication, like mifepristone, which has recently faced legal challenges despite overwhelming evidence of its safety and effectiveness.

Additionally, Trump may bring back policies from his previous tenure, such as the domestic gag rule, which restricted Title X-funded providers from offering abortion referrals. This rule, reversed by the Biden administration in 2021, had previously crippled the network of family planning clinics serving low-income individuals.

Ultimately, while the electorate has shown strong support for abortion rights, the incoming administration's actions could create a precarious and uncertain landscape for reproductive health care across the nation.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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