Under Trump's Leadership, U.S. Justice Department Curtails FACE Act Prosecutions for Blocking Reproductive Health Care Facilities

Jan 24, 2025, 08:17 PM

The U.S. Department of Justice, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, has issued an order to curtail prosecutions against individuals accused of blocking access to reproductive health care facilities. The Justice Department's chief of staff, Chad Mizelle, stated in a memo that prosecutions and civil actions under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) will now only be pursued in 'extraordinary circumstances' or cases with 'significant aggravating factors.' This directive also includes the immediate dismissal of three ongoing FACE Act cases related to blockades of clinics in Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The move is described as an effort to end the 'weaponization' of law enforcement, aligning with Trump's campaign promise to address this issue. The announcement follows Trump's recent pardons of several anti-abortion activists convicted under the FACE Act.