Dear John,

We knew the anti-abortion movement wouldn’t stop at overturning Roe v. Wade. We knew they wouldn’t stop until they banned abortion for everyone, everywhere, under any circumstance, even if it would save lives, health, or future fertility.

Now Trump, self-professed as the “most pro-life president in American history,” is signaling that he won’t enforce a law that guarantees the right to emergency care–including emergency abortion care–in every state. That’s where we come in. We knew this was coming, but we need your help to keep fighting back.

Last week, Trump’s Department of Justice dropped its case against Idaho, even though the state hasn’t been following the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). This federal law protects a person’s right to emergency abortion care—even in states with extreme abortion bans, like Idaho. However, the administration's decision to drop the case means that Trump might allow states to ignore federal law and deny lifesaving care. We’re not going to let Trump and extremist state legislatures threaten the lives of pregnant people. We are committed to putting an end to these cruel attacks on our freedom, health, and equality.

Make a donation now to power the fight for accessible health care and a better future for all.

Two years ago, we filed a complaint with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) against two hospitals that refused to provide emergency abortion care to our client who was experiencing an emergency pregnancy complication that put her at risk of a serious infection, hemorrhaging, or death. The Biden administration agreed with us, and CMS announced that the hospitals violated EMTALA by not providing the abortion care our client urgently needed. This was the first federal enforcement action against a hospital for refusing to provide emergency abortion care following the Supreme Court’s extremist decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

And while the Department of Justice has switched sides and dropped the case, at least for the time being—because of a temporary restraining order obtained by St. Luke’s Health system—Idaho cannot enforce its cruel abortion ban against doctors who provide care to people in medical emergencies. This case is far from over. It will almost certainly make its way to the Supreme Court, where the justices will either uphold EMTALA’s clear mandate or allow states to treat abortion like something other than the essential health care that it is. 

No matter what happens, we will not stop fighting until everyone has access to the care they seek, regardless of who they are or where they live. Donate now to fight back against extremist abortion bans and to protect all of our fundamental freedoms.

In solidarity,

Katie O’Connor
she/her/hers
Senior Director of Federal Abortion Policy
National Women's Law Center