In a move against President Biden’s pro-choice stance, a new Congressional bill, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 (H.R. 8580), has been introduced. This Act is geared towards preventing VA medical centers from utilizing taxpayer funds to perform abortions. The move is being celebrated by pro-life groups, who have criticized President Biden for his policy that allows abortions at taxpayer-funded VA clinics across the country.
Since 1992, the Department of Veterans Affairs was prohibited from using taxpayer money for abortion. However, in September 2022, the Biden administration side-stepped this limitation and implemented a rule that necessitates taxpayers to fund abortions for certain “health” reasons. It sparked backlash and resulted in lawsuits from attorneys general in 18 different states.
Now, the Biden administration is moving to make this rule permanent, much to the disapproval of pro-life advocates. This move has also raised concerns over whether VA doctors and nurses might be coerced into performing abortions.
President Biden’s determination to promote pro-choice policies, despite widespread opposition and religious objections, has also drawn criticism from Catholic leaders, including Archbishop Timothy Broglio. The Archbishop called the new rules “morally repugnant” and “incongruent with the Gospel.” Despite the controversy, he called upon Catholics to advocate for human life, support mothers and families in need, and show mercy to post-abortive women.