Trump Admin Wants To Test Drinking Water for Abortion and Birth Control Pills
HuffPost, April 22, 2026
The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency recommended earlier this month that states begin testing drinking water for certain forms of abortion pills and contraceptives – a worrisome move that comes after a years-long pressure campaign from anti-abortion organizations weaponizing environmental regulations to further undermine access to care. In a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden demanded scientific justification for including abortion medications and birth control pills on the EPA’s human health benchmarks list, giving the EPA until May 5th to respond.
Medicaid Rule Targeting Abortion Providers Set To Expire
Stateline, April 20, 2026
A controversial rule enacted last year that denies federal Medicaid funding to abortion providers is likely to expire this summer, despite anti-abortion pressure on Republicans to renew it. Leaders in Congress have insisted that a new federal spending bill be as stripped down as possible and focused on funding for immigration enforcement amid a two-month partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. The rule’s effects have been felt throughout the country as Planned Parenthood closed more than 50 health centers across 18 states this past year, 23 due to the Medicaid rule.
Pennsylvania Court Strikes Down Ban on Use of Medicaid Funds for Abortions
The Guardian, April 20, 2026
A Pennsylvania court on Monday said that the state’s constitution guarantees a right to abortion while striking down a decades-long law banning the use of state Medicaid funds to cover abortion costs. While the case initially centered over state Medicaid limitations, the stakes significantly expanded after the US Supreme Court in 2022 ended nearly a half-century of federal abortion protections by overturning Roe v Wade. The court’s finding on Monday marks the first time that the right to an abortion is protected by the Pennsylvania constitution, joining a handful of states where reproductive rights advocates have found success in protecting abortion access by pointing to state constitutions.
Court of Claims Strikes Down Michigan’s ‘Pregnancy Exclusion’ in End-of-Life Care
Michigan Advance, April 20, 2026
The Michigan Court of Claims struck down multiple provisions of a law that limited the decisions for end-of-life care that could be made on behalf of a pregnant individual. Michigan Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel wrote in a judgment released on Thursday that, “These provisions do not protect the health of an individual seeking care. Rather, they prevent individuals who are capable of becoming pregnant of making autonomous decisions about the type of healthcare they will receive in the event they are incapacitated.”
South Carolina Lawmakers’ Second Push To Ban Most Abortions Advances
Greenville News, April 21, 2026
A bill that could make it a felony for doctors to perform an abortion is moving to the full South Carolina Senate with just a few weeks left in the legislative session. Senate Bill 1095, also called the “Unborn Child Protection Act,” bans performing an abortion or supplying abortion drugs. It makes it illegal for a woman to get an abortion, with the only exception being to save a pregnant woman’s life. It also makes mifepristone and misoprostol Schedule IV controlled substances. Under the bill, a woman who has an abortion could face misdemeanor charges. The maximum sentence would be two years in jail with a $1,000 fine.
ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
Trump’s administration has eliminated advisory bodies, halted federal data initiatives, weakened civil rights enforcement, and reduced oversight and investment in education and workforce systems. These actions are not abstract. They undermine economic security for women with disabilities by making it harder for them to enter, stay in and advance in the workforce.
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Note: The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
