Republican representatives and senators are set to submit a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in support of rescinding the Biden-era rule, the Daily Caller has learned
Republican Reps. Michael Cloud of Texas and Chris Smith of New Jersey, along with Republican Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, expressed their support for the VA’s proposed rule rescinding the Biden administration’s “Reproductive Health Services” rule, a congressional spokesperson told the Caller.
The Biden-era rule “allows abortion on demand at VA facilities in violation of federal law,” according to the letter obtained by the Caller. “Returning VA practices to following the law in 38 CFR 17.38 is the proper course of action for this law-abiding Administration under President Donald J. Trump.”
Quill – Letter #L29067 – Comment Letter to VA Secretary Collins on Rescinding VA Abortion Rule – Version #1… by ashley
First issued as an Interim Final Rule, the policy expanded abortion access at VA facilities across the country, the spokesperson told the Caller. Critics have claimed the rule violated the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 and the Deborah Sampson Act of 2020. (RELATED: MOBBS: Finally, A Real Reformer At The Department Of Veterans Affairs)
“[N]o state law prohibits the performance of an abortion when deemed necessary to save the mother’s life, exposing the Biden VA’s rule for the illegal action that it was,” the letter reads. “It has long been recognized that lifesaving care for ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage management do not fall under the definition of abortion.”
The lawmakers point to professional medical guidance on possibly life-threatening issues and argue that tragic circumstances “should never be used under a false light to push the pro-abortion agenda over genuine healthcare.”
The letter claims the rule equated abortion with healthcare and allowed it under a “broad and undefined health exception” under TRICARE and Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), promoting “abortion on demand” at any stage of pregnancy provided a medical professional deems it “beneficial” to the mother’s health.
The lawmakers say the rule was implemented with VA training materials instructing providers to present abortion as the safest option for pregnant veterans and their dependents. (RELATED: VA Moves To Scrap Biden-Era Rule Forcing Taxpayers To Cover Abortions)
On September 3, 2025, Family Research Council submitted a public comment to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarding the proposal to restore the VA’s medical benefits package and CHAMPVA benefits to what they were before long-standing protections from abortion were…
— Family Research Council (@FRCdc) September 4, 2025
The lawmakers also claim the VA’s abortion training for healthcare providers was “manipulative and dehumanizing” in how it presented pregnancy “options.” “VA caregivers were instructed to never use the words ‘baby, unborn child,’ or ‘mother.’ Instead, they must use ‘fetus, embryo,’ and ‘pregnancy capable person,’” they write.
The training encouraged providers to frame pregnancy negatively, describing it as “most certainly not benign” and highlighting its impact on chronic health conditions, according to the letter, which calls the guidance “dangerously misleading.”
The lawmakers urge the VA to prioritize quality health care for pregnant veterans while protecting providers’ conscience rights.
The lawmakers argue that the rule was an unconstitutional overreach lacking legal authority. They emphasize their support for Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs Doug Collins’ effort to exclude abortion services from the VA’s medical package and CHAMPVA benefits. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: VA Will Save ‘Literally Millions Of Dollars’ By Scrapping Sex Changes, Sec Says)
“This effort reaffirms the profound respect we hold for America’s veterans — ensuring genuine and high-quality healthcare is the top priority,” the letter concludes.
Thank you, @POTUS and @SecVetAffairs Collins. This is exactly the kind of leadership veterans deserve. The @DeptVetAffairs should respect the value of every life, including the unborn.https://t.co/DRFEgFyClP
— Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) August 1, 2025
72 other lawmakers have signed the letter, the spokesperson told the Caller. It is also supported by groups including Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Americans United for Life, Students for Life, the Family Research Council and the American Principles Project.
The VA began offering abortion services under the Biden administration, citing the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade as the reason in September 2022. The decision allowed eligible Americans to access abortion-related counseling and, in some cases, the procedure itself, with VA healthcare workers permitted to perform abortions even in states where the procedure is otherwise illegal.
Editor’s note: Article updated to clarify the source of background information.
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