Donald Trump has not been convinced by anti-abortion organizations to promise signing a nationwide ban if he is re-elected as the President.

However, instead of being discouraged, those organizations are creating an extensive agenda against abortion for the ex-president to enact upon taking office.

Numerous strategies are being developed by approximately 100 conservative and anti-abortion organizations, utilizing various governmental agencies such as the EPA, Federal Trade Commission, and Postal Service, to limit access to abortion for the future president.

The policies they support are similar to those put into place by Trump during his initial term, but were later reversed by President Joe Biden. These rules would have a significant effect in a world without Roe v. Wade. Some of the requests on their agenda are fresh, including attempts to reverse state and federal initiatives that promote abortion accessibility and effectively create a national ban. However, all of these goals share one similarity: they do not need approval from Congress.

“VA hospitals may now provide access to abortions in certain situations. Additionally, they are seeking resumes from conservative individuals who wish to serve as political appointees or career civil servants. These individuals will be trained to utilize underutilized methods of agency authority in order to restrict access to abortions.”

“We’re trying to do as much, now, of the future president’s work that we can,” Spencer Chretien, a former special assistant to Trump who now runs Project 2025, recently told a packed room at Students for Life’s annual DC conference. “We need our people, our pro-life conservative people across America, to get fired up and to know that help is on the way and that they have something to look forward to.”

The Biden campaign is looking for enthusiasm from their supporters and is emphasizing the policy proposals of the right to showcase the differences between Trump and Biden. They are also making abortion rights a key focus in the upcoming presidential election.

Clinics that receive Title X funding are prohibited from discussing abortion or giving a referral for it. Clinics that offer both abortion and family planning services are also required to have separate facilities, staff, and finances.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, around 25% of Title X providers left the network in objection to the regulations. This resulted in a decrease of 1,000 sites and a 22% decrease in the number of patients served. Six states had no remaining Title X providers and six others lost the majority of their providers, potentially leading to 181,477 unintended pregnancies.

Under the Trump administration’s policies, religious organizations that do not offer or educate individuals about all available contraceptive choices and actively discourage abortion are permitted to take part in the program and receive financial support from the government.

If abortion is prohibited or limited in almost half of the country, the resulting impact could be significant.

Usha Ranji, the associate director for women’s health policy at KFF, stated that discussing this population would involve those who are considered low-income and would result in depriving them of essential healthcare services. She also mentioned that post-Dobbs, the likelihood of unplanned pregnancies would significantly change. It should be noted that Title X funds have never been allocated for abortion services. However, healthcare providers may face restrictions in providing comprehensive counseling on all available options, including those that may require traveling long distances.

Pro-life advocates are getting ready for the possibility of a Trump administration reversing all the measures implemented by Biden to increase availability of abortion pills and surgical abortions. These include funding for military personnel who have to cross state borders for an abortion, the provision of abortions at VA clinics, the extension of HIPAA privacy regulations to include abortions, and the option to receive abortion pills through mail or at retail pharmacies.

Roger Severino, vice president of domestic policy at the Heritage Foundation and part author of the Project 2025 playbook, stated at the Students for Life conference that they aim to reverse all of those policies. He also mentioned that the group is currently focused on creating executive orders and regulations that will revert Biden’s policies and make the “post-Dobbs environment” permanent.

Reversing numerous actions taken by Biden would be a lengthy process, as the Trump administration would need to draft new agency regulations and allow for public input before putting them into effect. Additionally, several items on anti-abortion organizations’ desired policies for a Trump administration would also necessitate the creation of new rules.

Students for Life is advocating for the EPA to classify the chemicals found in the abortion pill mifepristone as “persistent chemicals” and enforce stricter regulations. They are also calling for doctors who prescribe the pill to take responsibility for collecting and disposing of any aborted fetuses.

The individuals also desire for the Federal Trade Commission to take action against and bring legal charges upon online clinics that provide abortion pills to individuals in states where they are prohibited.

A group opposed to abortion, Susan B. Anthony, is investing a large amount of money to support conservative candidates in the upcoming election. They are urging the FDA to reinstate the rule, previously lifted by the Biden administration, that abortion pills can only be given in-person by a doctor. They also want the agency to look into any non-fatal side effects reported by patients who have taken the medication. There are also some who believe the FDA should go even further and revoke the pill’s approval, making it illegal to sell nationwide.

It is probable that these changes in regulations would encounter legal obstacles. Numerous regulations proposed by the Trump administration were halted in court due to failure to adhere to administrative protocol. However, with the knowledge gained from past experiences, the efforts of Project 2025 and other organizations, and the appointment of additional judges by Trump, their chances of success in a potential second term would likely improve.

Chris Jennings, a healthcare policy specialist who has served in both the Clinton and Obama administrations, predicts that there will be a strong push to restrict access to abortion through the use of executive power and the support of conservative courts. Even individuals living in typically liberal states may face limitations on abortion services in this scenario.

Lawmaking by memo

A potential second term for President Trump could result in quicker and more extensive alterations through the issuance of guidance and interpretations of current laws.

The Comstock Act, which was enacted in the 1870s and named after an official who opposed activities such as masturbation and women’s suffrage, prohibits the mailing of any material deemed “lewd or lascivious,” including tools or substances used for abortions. While the law is still in effect, it has been limited by Congress and the judicial system, no longer applying to the delivery of contraception. Project 2025 is preparing for the potential reinstatement of the act under Trump’s administration, which would restrict access to both abortion pills and medical equipment used in the procedure, and allow for criminal charges against both providers and patients involved.

According to POLITICO, Carol Tobias, the president of the National Right to Life Committee, stated that the Comstock Act should be adhered to and that abortion pills should not be distributed through the mail. She also emphasized the importance of enforcing this rule.

In December 2022, the Justice Department under President Biden released a memo stating that the Comstock Act does not prohibit the delivery of abortion medication through the mail, unless the sender has illegal intentions. However, judges appointed by former President Trump have made opposing rulings since then. Furthermore, Republican state attorneys general have used the Comstock Act to pressure major pharmacies to not provide these pills in their states.

Organizations are also strategizing for a potential repeal of the guideline implemented by the Biden administration that mandates hospitals to provide abortion services to patients in medical emergencies, regardless of state laws prohibiting the procedure. This matter is currently being deliberated by the Supreme Court.

“The Biden administration has reaffirmed the importance of including abortion services in comprehensive healthcare, and it is necessary for providers to offer this care,” stated Ranji. “The Trump administration could choose to not enforce this requirement without going through the usual rule-making process; they could simply make the decision.”