On Wednesday, the federal Hyde Amendment, which bans taxpayer-funded abortions, marked its 50th anniversary. Democrats are eyeing its repeal should they regain power in 2026 and 2028.
The Hyde Amendment, introduced by Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) and enacted in 1976, emerged from the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that recognized a federal right to abortion. Each year, the provision is included in the appropriations bill for the Labor and Health and Human Services departments, which funds Medicare and Medicaid. It prevents federal funds from being used for abortions and prohibits insurance plans funded by the federal government from covering them, except in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the mother’s life.
The Charlotte Lozier Institute, which supports pro-life policies, estimates that the Hyde Amendment has helped save around 2.7 million lives since its establishment. They pointed out that 21 state Medicaid programs provide funding for elective abortions, effectively bypassing the Hyde Amendment’s impact in those areas.
“For 50 years, the Hyde Amendment has stood for a simple principle: Americans should not be forced to pay for the destruction of unborn children’s lives with their tax dollars. Hyde has made a profound difference by saving more than 2.6 million unborn babies,” noted Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
“Initially, Hyde enjoyed bipartisan support — a kind of compromise. It was broadly accepted that Americans shouldn’t be obligated to fund abortions with their tax dollars, regardless of their stance on the topic. The Supreme Court agreed with this notion. Funding abortions may lead to increased abortions, which isn’t what most Americans or the government aim for,” she added.
Dannenfelser expressed concern that Democrats “have increasingly abandoned that consensus and are pushing to repeal Hyde and force taxpayers to fund abortion nationwide, making abortion even more common,” referencing an ambitious 84-page plan they have if they regain majorities in the upcoming elections.
“They have made their intentions clear, stating that if they secure a majority in Congress, abolishing Hyde would be among their top priorities within their first 100 hours. This jeopardizes a 50-year legacy aimed at protecting unborn children and American taxpayers, highlighting the importance of this November’s elections,” she remarked.
In 2020, when Democrats controlled the House, Senate, and the presidency, they attempted to remove the Hyde Amendment from appropriations. However, Republicans successfully used the Senate’s filibuster rule to block these efforts, which necessitate a 60-vote majority for legislation to pass.
Former President Joe Biden, who had historically supported the Hyde Amendment during his lengthy Senate career, altered his position during his presidential campaign.
Democrats contend that the Hyde Amendment disenfranchises low-income individuals and minorities, restricting their access to abortion services.
The far-left Progressive Caucus and Reproductive Freedom Caucus are advocating for the passage of the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act, which would permanently repeal the Hyde Amendment and mandate that health insurance plans cover abortion services for those enrolled in federal programs.
