The Trump administration is launching civil rights investigations into the 13 Democrat-led states that require private health insurance plans to pay for abortions, arguing that state mandates for abortion insurance coverage violate religious and conscience rights protections.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights sent 13 states letters late Wednesday evening, opening investigations into whether their requirements violate conscience protections under federal rules prohibiting state and local governments from discriminating against healthcare entities that refuse to facilitate abortions.