Laurel Duggan, DCNF
President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ) is forming a “Reproductive Rights Task Force” to monitor state and local abortion restrictions, the agency announced Tuesday.
The task force will track state and local legislation that restricts women’s ability to seek abortions or seeks to legally penalize medical workers who perform abortions in a manner consistent with federal law, according to the DOJ announcement. The unit will also collaborate with other federal agencies and take steps to secure and promote abortion access, “including proactive and defensive legal action where appropriate.”
The initiative is undertaken in collaboration with is “external stakeholders such as reproductive services providers, advocates and state attorneys general.” It’s not clear who exactly these stakeholders are.
Justice Department Announces Reproductive Rights Task Force
The Task Force Formalizes the Department’s Ongoing Work to Protect Reproductive Freedom Under Federal Lawhttps://t.co/X1ob7dM92Q pic.twitter.com/xM02cnIr5a
— Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) July 12, 2022
Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said the decision was an effort to protect abortion access in light of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.
“The Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision is a devastating blow to reproductive freedom in the United States,” Gupta said in the announcement. “The Court abandoned 50 years of precedent and took away the constitutional right to abortion, preventing women all over the country from being able to make critical decisions about our bodies, our health, and our futures. The Justice Department is committed to protecting access to reproductive services.”
The DOJ will monitor and evaluate state and local policies that threaten to infringe on federally-mandated abortion protections, including policies that go against Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance regarding the safety of the abortion drug Mifepristone or that penalize advising individuals about getting abortions in other states.
The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].
- ‘Swampy and wrong’: Conservatives torch GOP colleagues for backroom deal protecting Epstein-linked Dem - November 19, 2025
- ‘This is Jill sticking the shiv’: Biden raises eyebrows when he gives credit to Kamala for economic policy - August 16, 2024
- Damning new ad slamming ‘Chief Weirdo Tim Walz’ launches same time as blistering new nickname - August 6, 2024
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.