Biden moves to allow federal money to fund abortions for the first time since 1976

President Joe Biden has been busy since he was inaugurated last week. After signing multiple, controversial executive orders, he says he is considering ending the Hyde Amendment, which was originally passed in 1976 and renewed annually. The Hyde Amendment blocks federal funds from being used to pay for abortion with a few exceptions.

While on the campaign trail, Biden said he opposed the Hyde Amendment. Most administrations—even the Clinton administration, which campaigned against it, but still signed for it every year—supported it. The Obama administration did as well.

Congress enacted the Hyde Amendment after the Supreme Court ruled that abortion was legal in all 50 states. It's a failsafe way to ensure the government doesn't use taxpayer dollars to subsidize abortion services. Though not permanent, Congress renews it every year via the Department of Health and Human Services.

Republicans are already gearing up to oppose Biden's targeted campaign against the Hyde Amendment. On Tuesday, Indiana Rep. Jim Banks and 200 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to congressional leaders pledging their ongoing support for the Hyde Amendment and outlining their opposition to legislation that would abolish the Hyde Amendment.

"We write to express our unified opposition to Congressional Democrats' efforts to repeal the Hyde Amendment and other current-law, pro-life appropriations provisions," the letter states. "As part of their pro-abortion crusade, Democrats have taken direct aim at these long-standing, bipartisan protections that generally prevent the federal government from using taxpayer dollars to support abortion procedures."

The letter the Representatives signed concludes, "The Hyde Amendment alone has saved the lives of over 2 million innocent babies and continues to protect the conscience rights of a vast majority of Americans opposed to publicly funded abortions.We cannot allow the Hyde Amendment and other important pro-life safeguards to be decimated by Congressional Democrats. Accordingly, we pledge to vote against any government funding bill that eliminates or weakens the Hyde Amendment or other current-law, pro-life appropriations provisions."

Abolishing the Hyde Amendment would not only signal that the Biden Administration is moving farther left than they originally claimed they would, but it also would be out of lockstep with everyday Americans. A 2019 NPR poll showed while Americans are okay with keeping abortion legal, the majority want restrictions. A 2019 Slate piece explained why "The Hyde Amendment is More Popular Than Democrats Think" based on recent polling that found "a plurality of Americans opposes public funding of abortions."

For Biden to fail to renew the Hyde Amendment would not only be politically foolish but immoral. Americans should not be forced to pay for something like abortion that they fundamentally oppose either on ethical grounds.