TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined a coalition of six attorneys general to request a meeting with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought. The purpose of the meeting is to urge the Trump Administration to maintain a federal rule that grants veterans and their families access to important reproductive health services, which includes abortion care.
The “Reproductive Health Services” Rule allows the VA medical benefits package and CHAMPVA to provide abortion counseling and services in cases where the patient’s life or health is at risk or in instances of self-reported rape or incest. The Trump Administration is currently reviewing this rule and has conducted meetings with various stakeholders.
Attorney General Platkin expressed concerns about the potential changes to veterans’ access to reproductive health services, stating the importance of these services for veterans. He highlighted the hardships that could result from blocking access to these crucial medical services, emphasizing the need to prevent any rollback of current regulations.
The attorneys general argue that preserving the rule is vital as it addresses healthcare gaps for veterans and families, especially regarding emergency conditions linked to pregnancy and miscarriage complications.