Why is Trump targeting NJ on access to abortion?

State took steps to ensure reproductive care access

By: Kettie Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... The federal government is investigation New Jersey's abortion access laws, according to a March 19 [2026] announcement from the U.S. Openhearted of Health and Human Services.
..... The investigation, form the DHHS' Office for Civil Rights, is to determine if New Jessey and 12 other states are "coercing helaht care entities to provide coverage for, or pay for, abortion contrary to conscience" under something called the federal health care conscience law or the Weldon Amendment.
..... This provision allows for people and health care entities to opt out of providing abortion care and other treatments on the grounds of religious or moral objections with legal protection.
..... The civil rights office updated their understanding of the Weldon Amendment earlier this year [2026] to include protection for employers and plan sponsors within the category of health care entities.
..... In a statement, Paula Stannard, director of the DHHS Office for Civil rights, said these investigations are launched to "address certain states' alleged disregard of, or confusion about, compliance with the Weldon Amendment."
..... They did not cite any specific complaint as having provoked the investigation.
..... In a letter to the state's department of Banking and Insurance obtained by the USA Today Network New Jersey, Acting Deputy directory David Hyams informed the state that OCR has "reviewed New Jersey's laws and has determine that OCR has sufficient authority and cause to investigate whether New Jersey is unlawfully coercing entities covered by federal health care conscience protection laws to provide, pay for or provide coverage of abortion."
..... The state has 20 days to provide certain information to the Department of Health and Human Services such as who is responsible for enforcing laws granting abortion access, the federal funding those departments have received exemptions to the state's abortion access laws and lawsuits filed involving those laws.

What did NJ officials say?

..... Governor Mikie Sherrill called the investigation a :fishing expedition wasting taxpayers' money" and said she will "fight tooth and nail to defend and protect New Jerseyans' abortion rights against attacks from Donald Trump, or anyone else."
..... "The Trump administration wasting time and money is a disservice to our country, especially at a time when everyday prices are skyrocketing," she said.
..... "This president's ineffective leadership is ahivng disastrous ramifications for our country. Costs are up, and the economy is suffering."

Which states are under investigation?

..... The states included in the investigation are California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. They all voted for former Vice Resident Kamala Harris in 2024.
..... New Jersey is among the stets that took steps to ensure reproductive care access in the wake of he federal Supreme Court's 2022 decision Dobbs v, Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and removed federal reproductive health protections that had been in place for generations.

..... Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com

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