BREAKING: Trump Administration Abandons Legal Challenge to Idaho Abortion Ban, Jeopardizing Access to Lifesaving Medical Care Across the Country

For Immediate Release

March 5, 2025

Contact: Kelly Rimar, kelly@freeandjust.us   

BREAKING: Trump Administration Abandons Legal Challenge to Idaho Abortion Ban, Jeopardizing Access to Lifesaving Medical Care Across the Country

Abortion bans are killing women – the Department of Justice is putting millions more lives at risk 

WASHINGTON, DC –– Today, the Trump administration abandoned the legal challenge to Idaho’s abortion ban regarding the right to emergency abortion care under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). This move from the Department of Justice, which was announced hours before President Trump’s joint address to Congress in an apparent attempt to hide it from the American public, further demonstrates the Trump administration's intent to ban and restrict abortion nationwide putting more women’s lives in danger, regardless of the many patients and families who depend on this medically-necessary, lifesaving care across the country.

Free & Just is launching a six-figure digital buy in Wisconsin, Georgia, and Texas to educate Americans about this under-the-radar move by the Trump administration that puts millions of patients and families at risk and the lives of women in the hands of extremist politicians.

The reality is that at least one-third of women will go to the emergency room during their pregnancies, as pregnancy complications can be life-threatening - regardless of the disinformation being touted by anti-abortion extremists. After Idaho began enforcing the ban on emergency abortion care in January 2024, at least six patients with severe pregnancy complications were airlifted out of state to receive emergency care in the following three months. 

Protecting abortion rights and expanding access to care has never been more universally popular, uniting Americans of all race, gender, socio-economic status, geography, and political affiliations. Surveys have found that while only 15% of people had heard a lot or some about the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, the protections guaranteed by the law are overwhelmingly popular even after a simple description. Still, despite the popularity of access to abortion care, the Trump administration continues to attack access to this lifesaving care.  

In response to the Trump administration and Department of Justice’s decision, Veronica Ingham, Senior Campaigns Director for Free & Just released the following statement:

“This week, with much of the country distracted by President Trump’s joint address before Congress, the Department of Justice quietly greenlit another deadly attack on access to lifesaving abortion care. The administration's decision to abandon the challenge to Idaho’s abortion ban empowers extremists across the country, and leaves patients and providers at risk. Abortion bans are killing women, and instead of taking steps to protect access to lifesaving medical care, Trump and Republican officials are working behind-the-scenes to roll back our rights even further. Today’s decision confirms that the Trump administration is committed to banning abortion nationwide at the risk of patients’ lives.”   

Following the DOJ’s filing to dismiss the case, emergency medicine physicians and patient storytellers from Idaho and across the country released statements highlighting how the administration’s decision puts lives at risk. 

“Idaho is not a safe place to be pregnant, and this move from Trump’s Department of Justice confirms that attacks on access to care will only continue to escalate,” said Kayla Smith, who was forced to flee the state of Idaho for lifesaving abortion care after the state’s extreme abortion ban took effect. “I am heartbroken and outraged for the people of Idaho, who could soon find themselves forced to travel out-of-state for lifesaving medical care like my family was.” Smith is one of three plaintiffs in Adkins v. State of Idaho, a case challenging the state’s abortion ban.

"All Americans, including those in Idaho, deserve better than extremist policies that make standard medical care illegal," said Dr. Caitlin Gustafson, a family physician and President of the Idaho Coalition for Safe Healthcare Foundation. “The Trump administration is going out of its way to make our jobs as doctors more difficult, and undermining the care we are able to provide to our patients. Politicizing lifesaving medical care is dangerous and it is wrong. Our lawmakers need to focus on making healthcare safer and more accessible, not less.”

“For decades, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) has guaranteed that emergency medicine physicians like me can provide appropriate care to every patient we treat – the Trump administration is trying to change that,” said Dr. Sophia Spadafore, an Emergency Medicine physician practicing in New York City. “I am fearful for my patients, for my colleagues, and for every person who could soon find themselves turned away from the ER and unable to access the care they need.”

If you are interested in speaking with any of the storytellers quoted above, please contact kelly@freeandjust.us. 

Free & Just is committed to fighting for reproductive freedom. Join us in sharing stories, raising voices, and securing our future. 

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Free & Just is fighting to stop attacks on reproductive freedom and rights. We’re working with people across the country to share real stories to show the devastating consequences of attacks on our reproductive freedom. We all deserve the right to control our bodies and lives. That’s why we’re sharing our stories, raising our voices, and fighting for our future.