UNITED STATES

Departing president enacts rule to protect abortion rights

January 18, 2017

A rule that stops state governments from defunding abortion providers for political reasons goes into effect two days before President Barack Obama leaves office. He enacted it to curb Republic attacks on abortion rights, one of the most divisive issues in America.

The rule will bar states from withholding federal funds from health clinics that provide abortions.

Nearly half of all state legislatures have tried to cut funding from Planned Parenthood, the best known provider, because some of its locations provide abortion services.

The rule might not protect abortion rights for long. President-elect Donald Trump is widely expected to crack down on Planned Parenthood funding after taking office, according to The Hill. The publication reports that Republican leaders in Congress are already eyeing legislative language to defund the organization in a spending bill in 2017.

#21968 Published: December 16, 2016