Trump-appointed Judge David Joseph has struck down a controversial Biden-era mandate that would have forced employers to provide time off for abortions, delivering a major victory for pro-life advocates across America.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. District Judge David Joseph ruled that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) exceeded its authority by including abortion in workplace accommodations required under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
- The ruling favors plaintiffs including the attorneys general of Louisiana and Mississippi, along with several Catholic organizations who challenged the mandate.
- The judge maintained that Congress never clearly intended for abortion to be covered by the Act, preserving the original intent of pregnancy protections.
- The Trump administration is unlikely to appeal the ruling, signaling continued support for pro-life policies.
- Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill celebrated the decision as “a win for Louisiana and for life.”
Court Reverses Biden Administration’s Abortion Mandate
In a decisive ruling that has bolstered the pro-life movement, Judge David Joseph, appointed by President Trump, has overturned a controversial Biden administration rule that would have required employers to provide time off for abortion procedures. The judge determined that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission overstepped its authority when it included abortion among pregnancy-related conditions requiring job protections under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). This federal legislation, which otherwise remains intact, mandates reasonable accommodations for genuine pregnancy-related conditions for companies with 15 or more employees.
“Victory! A federal court has granted Louisiana’s request to strike down an EEOC rule requiring employers to accommodate employees’ purely elective abortions. This is a win for Louisiana and for life!” stated Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill
The legal challenge was brought by a coalition of conservative states and religious organizations, including the attorneys general of Louisiana and Mississippi, states with near-total abortion bans that contain specific exceptions. Judge Joseph’s ruling emphasized that Congress never clearly intended for abortion to be covered under the PWFA, stating that if Congress had meant to include such a divisive issue, “it would have spoken clearly when enacting the statute, particularly given the enormous social, religious, and political importance of the abortion issue in our nation at this time.”
Pro-Life Victory Amidst Continued Legal Battles
The EEOC’s original decision to include abortion in the PWFA regulations was approved in a contentious 3-2 vote along party lines during the previous administration. This attempt to expand abortion access through workplace regulations represented one of many administrative efforts by Biden officials to circumvent state restrictions following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. Now, with President Trump’s administration firmly in place, this reversal signals a continued commitment to pro-life policies and respect for state sovereignty on abortion laws.
Similar lawsuits challenging the abortion provision continue across the country, including one led by 17 states. Notably, while the Trump administration has opposed the abortion mandate, it continues to defend the broader Pregnant Workers Fairness Act against a separate lawsuit seeking to overturn the legislation entirely—demonstrating a nuanced approach that protects legitimate pregnancy accommodations while rejecting the previous administration’s overreach on abortion.
Left-Wing Groups Express Dismay
As expected, left-wing advocacy groups have expressed outrage at the ruling. A Better Balance, a legal advocacy organization that championed the EEOC’s abortion mandate, criticized the decision as part of what they characterized as an attack on women’s rights. Their president, Inimai Chettiar, claimed, “The impact of this is huge,” while failing to acknowledge that the ruling specifically preserves workplace protections for actual pregnancy conditions, just not elective abortions.
“This court’s decision to deny workers reasonable accommodations for abortion-related needs is part of a broader attack on women’s rights and reproductive freedom.” – A Better Balance President Inimai Chettiar
The EEOC, which currently lacks a quorum to make key decisions under the restructured Trump administration, has not commented on the ruling. However, with new appointments expected, the Commission is likely to align with President Trump’s pro-life stance going forward. The Department of Justice has already shown signs of this shift by recently seeking to dismiss legal challenges intended to restrict access to abortion pills—a clear reversal from the previous administration’s aggressive pro-abortion positioning.
