Tennessee Attorney General Skrmetti Files Amicus Brief Against the Department of Veterans Affairs New Abortion Rule

Tennessee Chief Law Officer Jonathan Skrmetti joined a union of 17 chief law officers in filing an amicus brief in the Western District of Texas in the case of Carter v. McDonough.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reversed long-held company practices and adopted a final interim guideline in September 2022, enabling taxpayer-funded abortions and abortion counseling for veterans and their beneficiaries. An opposing VA nurse and Army veteran, Stephanie Carter, filed a suit versus the brand-new guideline.

AG Skrmetti joined a coalition of 17 state attorneys general to eliminate federal overreach in a new guideline allowing abortions at VA clinics. Find out more here: https://t.co/2XYn3a4jbp pic.twitter.com/XRebCusfJF

—-- TN Attorney General (@AGTennessee) January 18, 2023

Carter declared in her suit, filed in December, that her "sincerely held religions forbid her from providing abortion services and providing counseling needed by application of the" VA policy.

Some amici have actually selected to adopt tighter restrictions on abortion following Dobbs. Other States have preserved or embraced more permissive programs. All States have arrangements in their abortion laws to secure a lady's life."

Skremmti stated, "In Dobbs, the Supreme Court acknowledged that regulation of abortion is delegated to the states. Tennessee's law shows the will of the people as expressed through their elected agents. We will not permit federal bureaucrats to undermine the General Assembly's legal authority."

Around two months after the VA executed the guideline, Skrmetti initially signed up with 14 other chief law officers in November to caution the federal agency that it did not have the authority to execute the guideline.