California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell have led a coalition of 22 attorneys general in opposing a proposed federal rule by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) that would restrict abortion care access for veterans and their families. The group submitted a comment letter in response to the VA’s request for public input on the proposed rollback.
The current “Reproductive Health Services” Rule, implemented by the Biden Administration in 2022, allows veterans, survivors, and dependents to access abortion services at VA health centers if the patient’s life or health is threatened or in cases of self-reported rape or incest. It also provides access to abortion counseling. The Trump Administration signaled its intention to review this rule and subsequently published a proposal on August 4, 2025, to undo these protections.
Earlier this year, representatives from Attorney General Bonta’s office joined other state attorneys general in meetings with VA officials and the Office of Management and Budget to argue against changes to the existing policy. They expressed concern that rolling back these protections would harm veterans and their families.
Attorney General Bonta stated: “Earlier this year, my fellow attorneys general and I urged the Trump Administration to protect access to abortion care for veterans and their families in cases of rape, incest, and when the life or health of the woman is at risk. We also urged the Trump Administration to protect access to abortion counseling. Despite our commonsense positions, the Trump Administration has decided to continue its relentless attacks on reproductive healthcare,” said Attorney General Bonta. “As I have said before, medical decisions should be made by patients and their doctors — free from political interference. I’m proud to be co-leading my fellow attorneys general in calling on the Trump Administration to withdraw its proposed rule, which is both extreme and unjustified by any legal rationale.”
The interim version of the current rule was announced by the VA on September 2, 2022, following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade. On October 11, 2022, Attorney General Bonta led a previous coalition supporting increased reproductive freedom through a comment letter backing the VA’s efforts. After reviewing public comments, the VA finalized its rule on March 4, 2024.
Since Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, at least 19 states have enacted bans or restrictions on abortion care.
In their recent letter opposing the proposed rollback, attorneys general argue:
– The draft regulation creates confusion about when VA physicians can provide abortion care; while it suggests lifesaving abortions may be allowed under certain circumstances in its preamble, its regulatory text appears to ban such care entirely.
– The proposal departs from longstanding policies at both state and federal levels that have protected pregnant patients’ health and autonomy.
– The justification provided for changing the policy is inadequate; it asserts without basis that VA lacks authority for abortion care and relies more on political than medical reasoning.
Attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont Washington and District of Columbia joined Bonta and Campbell in signing the letter.
A copy of the comment letter can be found here.
