The Justice Department is set to dismiss a case challenging Idaho's abortion ban in medical emergencies, marking a shift in federal policy. (AP File)

- Trump administration signals intent to drop lawsuit against Idaho's strict abortion ban in medical emergencies.
- St. Luke's Health System seeks court order to continue providing emergency abortions as deemed necessary.
- Idaho pushes back, arguing state law already allows abortions in life-threatening situations.
Share
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration signaled Tuesday it will let Idaho enforce its strict abortion ban in the treatment of pregnant women suffering medical emergencies, a dramatic reversal from the previous administration in a closely watched lawsuit.
The Justice Department said it would move to dismiss the case originally filed by the Biden administration, according to court papers filed by the state’s largest hospital network.
It could come as soon as Wednesday, St. Luke’s Health System wrote in a court filing.
Idaho has one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion laws. The hospital has previously said the laws forced them to fly women out of state for emergency care.
Dropping the case would be among the new administration’s first major moves on abortion. In his first term, Republican President Donald Trump appointed many of the Supreme Court justices who voted to overturned the nationwide right to abortion in 2022. He has since said the issue should be left to the states.
Complaints that pregnant women were turned away from U.S. emergency rooms spiked after the overturning of Roe v. Wade amid questions about what care they could legally provide, federal records showed.
The Tuesday filing from St. Luke’s came as the hospital seeks a court order allowing doctors to continue providing abortions in emergency situations as they deem necessary.
A Justice Department spokesperson and Idaho officials didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
Related Story: Abortions To Resume In Missouri After A Judge Blocks Restrictions
Biden Administration’s Original Lawsuit
In its original lawsuit against Idaho, the Biden administration argued that federal law required doctors to perform abortions in emergency situations if a patient’s health or life were at serious risk — even if ending the pregnancy could run afoul of the state’s abortion ban.
Idaho has pushed back, saying that its state law allows for abortions in life-threatening situations and that the Democratic administration was trying to improperly expand its exceptions.
The Supreme Court stepped into the Idaho case last year and ultimately handed down a narrow ruling that allowed hospitals to continue performing emergency abortions as doctors deemed necessary.
The high court did not, however, resolve key legal questions in the case, and it was argued before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in December. The appeals court has not yet ruled.
Idaho’s Response to St. Luke’s Request
Idaho Deputy Attorney General Brian Church urged the court to reject St. Luke’s request for a restraining order, saying the hospital system was trying to reinterpret federal law and wrest control from the state legislature now that, “the United States is abandoning its erroneous interpretation” that federal law requires emergency abortions.
“It is now seeking to usurp the role of the Idaho Legislature in setting statewide medical standards of care,” Church wrote in a court filing on Tuesday. He said any changes to state policy should come from the ballot box, not the courts.
Related Story: Instagram and Facebook Blocked and Hid Abortion Pill Providers’ Posts
Impact on Emergency Care
About 50,000 people in the U.S. develop life-threatening pregnancy complications each year, including major blood loss, sepsis or the loss of reproductive organs. In rare cases, doctors might need to terminate a pregnancy to protect the health of the pregnant person, especially in cases where there is no chance for a fetus to survive.
Before the court blocked the state from enforcing the ban in health-threatening emergencies, some Idaho doctors reported that pregnant women were facing delays in care and in some cases being flown to out-of-state hospitals for treatment they would have previously been able to get at home.
In another abortion-related case this week, the Trump administration received additional time to make a filing — which would also give it time to change the government’s position on the issue. In that case, the states of Idaho, Kansas and Missouri are seeking to restrict the abortion pill mifepristone. Under Biden, the government was defending access.
Most Republican-controlled states have started enforcing new bans or restrictions since 2022. Currently, 12 states are enforcing bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with limited exceptions, and four have bans that kick in at or about six weeks into pregnancy — often before women realize they’re pregnant.
RELATED TOPICS:
US Military to Start Kicking out Transgender Troops Next Month, Memo Says
6 hours ago
Los Angeles Coliseum and SoFi Stadium to Share Opening and Closing Ceremonies for 2028 Olympics
6 hours ago
Jennifer Aniston’s Alleged Stalker Appears in Court Shirtless and a Judge Orders a Mental Evaluation
7 hours ago
Fresno Mayor Dyer Bullish on Growth, Calls on Newsom for $200 Million
5 hours ago
Rejoicing Peruvians See Pope Leo XIV as One of Their Own After His Many Years in Peru
5 hours ago
FEMA’s Acting Administrator Is Replaced a Day After Congressional Testimony
6 hours ago
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Leads Missile Test, Stresses Nuclear Force Readiness, KCNA Says
6 hours ago
Shohei Ohtani Could Have Landed 15-Year Deal, Agent Says, but He Didn’t Want to Risk Skills Decline
6 hours ago
US Military to Start Kicking out Transgender Troops Next Month, Memo Says
6 hours ago
Los Angeles Coliseum and SoFi Stadium to Share Opening and Closing Ceremonies for 2028 Olympics
6 hours ago
Jennifer Aniston’s Alleged Stalker Appears in Court Shirtless and a Judge Orders a Mental Evaluation
7 hours ago
Fresno Mayor Dyer Bullish on Growth, Calls on Newsom for $200 Million
5 hours ago
Rejoicing Peruvians See Pope Leo XIV as One of Their Own After His Many Years in Peru
5 hours ago
FEMA’s Acting Administrator Is Replaced a Day After Congressional Testimony
6 hours ago
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Leads Missile Test, Stresses Nuclear Force Readiness, KCNA Says
6 hours ago
Shohei Ohtani Could Have Landed 15-Year Deal, Agent Says, but He Didn’t Want to Risk Skills Decline
6 hours ago
US Military to Start Kicking out Transgender Troops Next Month, Memo Says
6 hours ago
Los Angeles Coliseum and SoFi Stadium to Share Opening and Closing Ceremonies for 2028 Olympics
6 hours ago
Jennifer Aniston’s Alleged Stalker Appears in Court Shirtless and a Judge Orders a Mental Evaluation
7 hours ago
Republicans’ Trust in Media Increases Following Trump’s Return to White House
5 hours ago
Categories

Republicans’ Trust in Media Increases Following Trump’s Return to White House

Jeanine Pirro to Be Interim US Attorney for DC, Trump Says

Fresno Police Catch Fleeing Gang Member Who Tossed Gun Over Fence

Fresno Mayor Dyer Bullish on Growth, Calls on Newsom for $200 Million

Rejoicing Peruvians See Pope Leo XIV as One of Their Own After His Many Years in Peru

FEMA’s Acting Administrator Is Replaced a Day After Congressional Testimony

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Leads Missile Test, Stresses Nuclear Force Readiness, KCNA Says
