Two years ago this week, the Supreme Court ended decades of nationwide abortion protections and dramatically reshaped the legal landscape in the United States. The court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization reversed the landmark ruling Roe v. Wade, paving the way for abortion bans in several Republican-led states. Now, the fight over abortion policy continues to play out in Congress, state capitols and the courts. Since the Dobbs decision, 14 states have banned the procedure at all stages of pregnancy with limited exceptions, and six others have restrictions between 6 to 15 weeks.”We’re seeing people fleeing those zip codes to try to get access to health care, and sometimes traveling great distances with enormous consequences,” said Dr. Laura Meyers, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.Despite these barriers, data from the Society of Family Planning suggests the total number of abortions in the United States has increased slightly since the Dobbs decision. Anti-abortion advocates say they’re working to ramp up resources in hopes that more women will continue their pregnancies.”There are so many ways that we are supporting women facing this difficult decision but we can do better,” said March for Life President Jeanne Mancini.Some congressional Republicans are also calling for national abortion restrictions, but advocates acknowledge it will be challenging. “Do I think that a life protective law very early in gestational age is going to pass right now, that that’s realistic? No,” Mancini said. “Do I think that mainstream America would be very happy with something like a 15-week pain-capable protection passing? Yes.”Congressional Democrats have tried but failed to pass legislation restoring federal abortion rights, and protecting access to contraception and in vitro fertilization. Republicans wrote off the contraception bill as a political stunt and highlighted their own efforts to protect fertility treatments, yet stopped short of endorsing the Democratic plan. Meanwhile, abortion rights advocates are working to protect or expand access in state constitutions. Voters in at least four states — Colorado, Florida, Maryland and South Dakota — will weigh in directly through ballot initiatives this fall. Efforts in other states are still ongoing. “I think we’re going to fight like hell to get those protections back,” Meyers said. The future will also be shaped by Congressional elections and the presidential race in November. The Biden-Harris Campaign is holding over 35 events around the Dobbs anniversary. President Joe Biden has pledged to do everything in his power to protect and restore abortion rights.Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has supported national abortion restrictions in the past but now says he would not sign them into law if reelected. Instead, Trump says the issue should be left to the states. “You have to go with your heart but you also have to remember you have to get elected,” Trump told a crowd of Christian conservatives at a Faith & Freedom Coalition conference in Washington D.C. on Saturday. Trump also touted his first-term appointment of three Supreme Court justices, which paved the way for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.The Supreme Court recently ruled on the abortion issue for the first time since that 2022 decision. In a unanimous ruling, the justices preserved access to the commonly used abortion pill mifepristone.However, both sides expect the issue to come before the court again. The conservative-leaning bench found anti-abortion doctors lacked standing to sue but did not rule on the merits of the case. Before the end of its term, the high court is also expected to weigh in on Idaho’s abortion ban and whether it conflicts with a federal law requiring emergency care to stabilize a patient. The state’s law currently allows abortion to save a mother’s life, but the Biden Administration argues there also need to be exceptions for health risks.
Two years ago this week, the Supreme Court ended decades of nationwide abortion protections and dramatically reshaped the legal landscape in the United States.
The court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization reversed the landmark ruling Roe v. Wade, paving the way for abortion bans in several Republican-led states.
Now, the fight over abortion policy continues to play out in Congress, state capitols and the courts.
Since the Dobbs decision, 14 states have banned the procedure at all stages of pregnancy with limited exceptions, and six others have restrictions between 6 to 15 weeks.
“We’re seeing people fleeing those zip codes to try to get access to health care, and sometimes traveling great distances with enormous consequences,” said Dr. Laura Meyers, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
Despite these barriers, data from the Society of Family Planning suggests the total number of abortions in the United States has increased slightly since the Dobbs decision.
Anti-abortion advocates say they’re working to ramp up resources in hopes that more women will continue their pregnancies.
“There are so many ways that we are supporting women facing this difficult decision but we can do better,” said March for Life President Jeanne Mancini.
Some congressional Republicans are also calling for national abortion restrictions, but advocates acknowledge it will be challenging.
“Do I think that a life protective law very early in gestational age is going to pass right now, that that’s realistic? No,” Mancini said. “Do I think that mainstream America would be very happy with something like a 15-week pain-capable protection passing? Yes.”
Congressional Democrats have tried but failed to pass legislation restoring federal abortion rights, and protecting access to contraception and in vitro fertilization. Republicans wrote off the contraception bill as a political stunt and highlighted their own efforts to protect fertility treatments, yet stopped short of endorsing the Democratic plan.
Meanwhile, abortion rights advocates are working to protect or expand access in state constitutions. Voters in at least four states — Colorado, Florida, Maryland and South Dakota — will weigh in directly through ballot initiatives this fall. Efforts in other states are still ongoing.
“I think we’re going to fight like hell to get those protections back,” Meyers said.
The future will also be shaped by Congressional elections and the presidential race in November.
The Biden-Harris Campaign is holding over 35 events around the Dobbs anniversary. President Joe Biden has pledged to do everything in his power to protect and restore abortion rights.
Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has supported national abortion restrictions in the past but now says he would not sign them into law if reelected. Instead, Trump says the issue should be left to the states.
“You have to go with your heart but you also have to remember you have to get elected,” Trump told a crowd of Christian conservatives at a Faith & Freedom Coalition conference in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Trump also touted his first-term appointment of three Supreme Court justices, which paved the way for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
The Supreme Court recently ruled on the abortion issue for the first time since that 2022 decision. In a unanimous ruling, the justices preserved access to the commonly used abortion pill mifepristone.
However, both sides expect the issue to come before the court again. The conservative-leaning bench found anti-abortion doctors lacked standing to sue but did not rule on the merits of the case.
Before the end of its term, the high court is also expected to weigh in on Idaho’s abortion ban and whether it conflicts with a federal law requiring emergency care to stabilize a patient. The state’s law currently allows abortion to save a mother’s life, but the Biden Administration argues there also need to be exceptions for health risks.
