Trump Justice Dept. limits enforcement of FACE Act, which protects reproductive health facilities – CBS News

The Trump Administration Limits Enforcement of Federal Law Safeguarding Abortion Centers

The Trump administration has directed federal prosecutors to limit enforcement of a federal law safeguarding abortion centers, reproductive health centers, and pregnancy resource centers, calling the Biden administration’s previous use of longstanding protection “the prototypical example” of weaponization of the federal government.

The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act

1. The law, passed in 1994, makes it illegal to harm, threaten, or interfere with individuals obtaining or providing reproductive health services or damage a facility because it provides reproductive health.

A new Department of Justice memo issued on Friday focuses on the Justice Department’s application of the FACE Act. The memo, written by the chief of staff to the attorney general, Chad Mizelle, instructs prosecutors to enforce the law only in “extraordinary circumstances” or in instances when death, extreme bodily harm, or significant property damage result.

• Future FACE Act violations will mostly be left to state or local law enforcement, with exceptions for federal investigations in cases presenting significant aggravating factors.

“Until further notice, no new abortion-related FACE Act actions, criminal or civil, will be permitted without authorization from the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division,” Mizelle wrote.

Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The policy change affects with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by the United Nations, including:

• Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being – Ensuring access to reproductive health services and protecting the rights of individuals seeking these services.
• Goal 5: Gender Equality – Promoting gender equality by safeguarding reproductive rights and addressing discrimination against women.
• Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Ensuring the fair and equal enforcement of laws to protect reproductive health facilities and individuals.

The Trump administration and its allies have criticized the FACE Act for being disproportionately enforced against anti-abortion activists during the Biden administration. They argue that the law should be applied evenhandedly.

Former Attorney General Merrick Garland established a Reproductive Rights Task Force to address violations of the FACE Act during the Biden administration. The Justice Department brought multiple cases against defendants for targeting facilities such as Planned Parenthood and pregnancy resource centers.

Examples of these cases include firing BB guns at a California Planned Parenthood facility, firebombing a Planned Parenthood building with a Molotov cocktail, and spraying threatening messages on multiple pregnancy resource centers in Florida.

While Garland defended prosecutors’ enforcement of the law, current Justice Department officials argue that there was “not the even-handed administration of justice.”

Recent Developments

The memo limiting enforcement of the FACE Act was issued on the same day as the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., where Vice President J.D. Vance spoke and expressed support for the Trump administration’s stance on pro-life protesters and activists.

Additionally, President Trump recently pardoned 10 defendants charged with violating the FACE Act after they formed a blockade at a Washington, D.C., reproductive healthcare center in 2020. The president stated that they should not have been prosecuted.

The FACE Act also extends similar protections to places of worship and individuals exercising the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.

During her Senate confirmation hearing, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was nominated by President Trump to lead the Justice Department, emphasized the importance of applying the FACE Act evenhandedly to protect abortion clinics, pregnancy centers, and people seeking counseling.

About the Author

Nicole Sganga is a CBS News reporter covering homeland security and justice.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The issues highlighted in the article are related to reproductive health services, abortion centers, and pregnancy resource centers. These issues are connected to SDG 3, which aims to ensure good health and well-being, including access to reproductive health services. They are also connected to SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls, as reproductive health services are essential for women’s health and empowerment. Additionally, the article mentions the disproportionate enforcement of the law against anti-abortion activists, which relates to SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequalities. Finally, the article discusses the role of the Justice Department in enforcing the law, which is relevant to SDG 16, which focuses on promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
• SDG 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.
• SDG 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.
• SDG 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are SDG 3.7, which focuses on ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, SDG 5.6, which aims to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, SDG 10.3, which aims to reduce inequalities by eliminating discriminatory laws and promoting appropriate legislation, and SDG 16.3, which focuses on promoting the rule of law and equal access to justice.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of individuals accessing reproductive health services
• Availability of family planning information and education
• Existence of national strategies and programs integrating reproductive health
• Level of access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights
• Existence of discriminatory laws, policies, and practices
• Level of enforcement of laws protecting reproductive health services
• Existence of equal access to justice for all

The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators. However, based on the identified targets, indicators that can be used to measure progress towards these targets include the number of individuals accessing reproductive health services, the availability of family planning information and education, the existence of national strategies and programs integrating reproductive health, the level of access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, the existence of discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, the level of enforcement of laws protecting reproductive health services, and the existence of equal access to justice for all.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cbsnews.com