Trump Administration Rescinds Emergency Abortion Guidance; Congressman Aderholt Applauds Move

On June 3, 2025, the Trump administration rescinded a Biden-era policy that required hospitals to provide emergency abortions under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). This guidance, issued in July 2022, mandated that hospitals offer emergency abortion care to stabilize patients, even in states with strict abortion bans.

Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL4), Chairman of the House Values Action Team, expressed strong support for this decision. He stated:

“I strongly commend President Trump and his administration for restoring clarity and integrity to federal law by rescinding the Biden administration’s EMTALA guidance. Congress never intended EMTALA to be a backdoor mandate for abortion. It was designed to ensure that patients receive emergency medical care, regardless of their ability to pay, not to override pro-life state laws.

“The previous guidance was not only legally flawed but dangerously misleading. It created unnecessary confusion about the ability of women to receive emergency care in pro-life states—care that is, and has always been, protected. Every state allows physicians to treat conditions like miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or other emergencies where a mother’s life is at risk. To suggest otherwise is irresponsible and politically motivated.

“I am grateful that the Administration reaffirmed what many of us have long said: pro-life laws protect both patients, the mother and her unborn child. This is a win for life, a win for truth, and a win for the many doctors who provide life-saving care with compassion and integrity,” Aderholt said.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stated that the old guidance did not reflect the current administration’s policies. While EMTALA still mandates emergency treatment, the changes raises questions about whether doctors can legally perform emergency abortions, especially in conservative states.

Critics of the change are afraid it could deter physicians from stepping in during pregnancy-related emergencies, annd increase the risks to women's health. They argue that the new policy may lead to delayed care for pregnant patients facing life-threatening conditions.

Congressman Aderholt, a long-time pro-life advocate, has consistently supported legislation to protect both unborn children and the rights of medical professionals who refuse to participate in abortion procedures on moral or religious grounds. 

The CMS statement on the new policy was made on June 3, 2025.