US appeals court upholds Trump rules involving abortions
GENE JOHNSON
Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP) — A U.S. appeals court on Monday upheld Trump administration rules that bar health care providers in the federal family planning program for low-income women from referring patients for abortions.
The 7-4 ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned decisions issued by judges in Washington, Oregon and California. The court had already allowed the administration's changes to begin taking effect while the government appealed those rulings.
The changes ban taxpayer-funded clinics in the Title X program from making abortion referrals, a restriction opponents characterize as a "gag rule." They also prohibit clinics that receive federal money from sharing office space with abortion providers, which critics said would force many Titl