The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it is blocking $200 million in federal funds to California over the state’s abortion practices.
A statement released by the Department of Health and Human Services stated that the funds would be withheld from California “due to the state illegally mandating that all health care plans subject to regulation by the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) cover abortion without exclusion or limitation.”
The administration said California is violating the Weldon Amendment, an anti-discrimination law meant to shield insurers from punishment if they don’t cover abortions.
Those funds will be withheld again next quarter if the state does not comply, according to the statement.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose relationship with President Trump has been contentious at times, responded to the news on Twitter by mocking the administration for attempting to “protect” the “pathetic patriarchal system.”
“Nothing like the ‘pro-life’ party eliminating healthcare during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC,” the California Democrat tweeted. “California will survive without this $$ for now — but their frail, pathetic patriarchal system they are so desperate to protect won’t.”
Nothing like the “pro-life” party eliminating healthcare during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
California will survive without this $$ for now — but their frail, pathetic patriarchal system they are so desperate to protect won’t. https://t.co/FNDbqpOhEy
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) December 17, 2020
HHS also announced that it forwarded a case to the Justice Department involving a nurse who said she was forced to participate in an elective abortion. The DOJ said it will pursue that case.
“California and the University of Vermont Medical Center have violated federal conscience laws and refused to work with us to take corrective action, so we are now taking action to hold them to account,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said.
Vice President Mike Pence held an event in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. At the event, he touted Trump’s record on abortion, referring to him as the “most pro-life president in American history.”
