Trump administration probes states that mandate health insurance coverage for abortion

By — Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press By — Ali Swenson, Associated Press Ali Swenson, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Trump administration probes states that mandate health insurance coverage for abortion Politics Mar 19, 2026 7:58 PM EDT The Trump administration said Thursday that it has launched investigations into 13 states that require state-regulated health insurance plans to cover abortion. The probes are the latest in a long-running dispute between the political parties on how to interpret a provision, known as the Weldon Amendment, that's included in federal spending laws each year. It bars states from discriminating against health entities that don't provide, cover or refer for abortion. WATCH: White House revokes guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions When Democrat Joe Biden was president, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' civil rights office said the provision didn't pertain to employers or other health care sponsors. The Trump administration said this year that it does. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. The administration says that potentially puts states with abortion coverage requirements in violation of the law, because they may not allow employers or other health care issuers to opt out. It said it was sending out letters to gather more information from those states. The HHS civil rights office launched the investigations "to address certain states' alleged disregard of, or confusion about, compliance with the Weldon Amendment," office Director Paula M. Stannard said in a statement. "Under the Weldon Amendment, health care entities, such as health insurance issuers and health plans, are ...