Anti-abortion activists are intensifying their efforts to eliminate all abortions nationwide, buoyed by influential allies in Washington, a supportive Supreme Court majority, and legislative opportunities in conservative states.
During the March for Life event, prominent figures including President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Speaker Mike Johnson are expected to address attendees. Recently, Trump pardoned 23 activists convicted of obstructing access to abortion clinics.
Additionally, an executive order stating that the U.S. government recognizes only two sexes—male and female—contained a phrase that caught the attention of activists advocating for constitutional rights for embryos, asserting that individuals are male or female “at conception.”
These developments signal a shift after a presidential campaign where Trump distanced anti-abortion leaders from the Republican Party. Following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs decision, some Republicans expressed concern that the anti-abortion stance could alienate independent voters.
As electoral campaigning concludes, anti-abortion activists are now contemplating the extent of their ambitions. It remains uncertain whether recent signals indicate a more aggressive strategy, as many doubt that abortion is a primary focus for the president compared to issues like immigration or trade. However, allies and activists believe he is unlikely to obstruct conservative states from implementing new restrictions.
Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri recently spoke with Trump, expressing hope that the president would reinstate policies from his first term, such as requiring women to obtain abortion medication in person, which would complicate access for women in states where abortion is banned.
While Trump previously stated that the federal government should not intervene in abortion matters, he has pledged strong support to Christian organizations, promising to stand alongside them.
Some anti-abortion activists expressed disappointment over Trump's appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the Department of Health and Human Services, as he has supported abortion rights. In private discussions, Kennedy assured senators opposed to abortion rights that he would uphold the president's agenda, though this did not fully reassure all activists.
Abortion rights advocates are cautioning against potential sweeping actions from the administration, including the prosecution of abortion providers and the enforcement of the Comstock Act, which could criminalize the shipment of abortion-related materials, including pills.
Regardless of federal actions, anti-abortion activists are proposing extensive legislation at the state level aimed at undermining abortion protections and increasing penalties for women and providers in states where abortion is prohibited. These initiatives are intended to restrict access and provoke legal challenges, where activists believe they have an advantage.
In states like South Carolina and Oklahoma, conservative lawmakers are advancing legislation that could allow women who have abortions to be prosecuted for homicide. In Ohio, where voters enshrined abortion rights in the State Constitution in 2023, the Republican attorney general is arguing that existing abortion restrictions remain valid.
Activists are looking to Texas, where nearly all abortions are banned, as a model for future actions. John Seago, president of Texas Right to Life, emphasized the importance of halting the distribution of abortion medication in the state, with Republicans proposing various bills targeting access to these medications.
At the March for Life event, the Trump administration's involvement will be significant. Jennie Bradley Lichter, the incoming president of the March for Life, highlighted the presence of high-profile speakers as a positive indication of future successes.