Biden condemns court for not blocking abortion ban
President Joe Biden has condemned a Supreme Court decision not to block a new Texas law banning most abortions in the state, and directed federal agencies to do what they can to “insulate women and providers” from the impact.
The law, signed by Republican governor Greg Abbott in May, prohibits abortions once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity, usually around six weeks and before many women know they are pregnant.
It is part of a broader push by Republicans nationwide to restrict abortions. The deeply divided court allowed the law to remain in force in the nation’s biggest abortion curb since the judges legalised the operation nationwide half a century ago.
The court voted 5-4 to deny an emergency appeal from abortion providers.
Describing the Texas plan as bizarre, Biden said his administration will launch a “whole-of-government effort to respond to this decision” and look at “what steps the federal government can take to ensure that women in Texas have access to safe and legal abortions”.