President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises to leave abortion decisions to the states, his administration will likely play a significant role in shaping the national landscape around abortion and reproductive health.
Trump’s previous actions, such as appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, have already had a profound impact on the issue.
Two major cases involving the federal government, which have both been to the Supreme Court, will continue to pose challenges for the Trump administration.
One case concerns federal regulations that have made abortion pills easier to obtain, while the other deals with whether emergency room patients are entitled to an abortion in states that ban the procedure.
The Trump administration will also face pressure from anti-abortion activists to reverse Biden-era policies that expanded abortion access and to undermine efforts by blue states to respond to the reversal of Roe v. Wade.
Additionally, the administration may need to decide whether to pursue changes to the regulation of the abortion drug mifepristone.
Abortion rights advocates argue that if the Trump Justice Department refuses to defend federal policies that expand abortion access, it would effectively be using the courts to enact nationwide cutbacks to abortion access.
On the other hand, anti-abortion activists believe that Trump can adopt policies that align with his campaign promises without violating them.
The selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former Democrat who has been favorable to abortion rights, as HHS secretary has raised concerns among anti-abortion activists about whether the Trump administration will take a strong stance on the issue.
