We collect cookies to analyze our website traffic and performance; we never collect any personal data. Cookie Policy
Accept
NEW YORK DAWN™NEW YORK DAWN™NEW YORK DAWN™
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Trending
  • New York
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
  • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Art
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Reading: Justice Dept. Employees Urge Administration to Grant Leave for Out-of-State Abortions
Share
Font ResizerAa
NEW YORK DAWN™NEW YORK DAWN™
Search
  • Home
  • Trending
  • New York
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
  • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Art
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Follow US
NEW YORK DAWN™ > Blog > Politics > Justice Dept. Employees Urge Administration to Grant Leave for Out-of-State Abortions
Justice Dept. Employees Urge Administration to Grant Leave for Out-of-State Abortions
Politics

Justice Dept. Employees Urge Administration to Grant Leave for Out-of-State Abortions

Last updated: May 18, 2022 10:07 pm
Editorial Board Published May 18, 2022
Share
SHARE
18dc justice 1 facebookJumbo

WASHINGTON — Justice Department employees pressed the Biden administration on Wednesday to grant federal employees time off if they or their family members need to travel out of state to obtain abortions.

The request puts the administration in a potentially tricky position: either denying a benefit even as several large companies have made accommodations in the area, or granting one that pits it against state governments that restrict access to the procedure.

Members of a group dedicated to gender equity, the Department of Justice Gender Equality Network, sent a letter asking the administration to “swiftly consider” the move two weeks after a leaked draft opinion showed that the Supreme Court was poised to overturn Roe v. Wade. Should the court do so in June or early July, about half the states are likely to strictly curb abortion or ban it outright.

Granting leave to employees who must travel to obtain an abortion is akin to the time off that federal employees received to obtain coronavirus vaccinations, the group argued.

“The administration mandated agencies to grant federal employees administrative leave so that they or their family members can obtain Covid-19 vaccinations for their ‘health, safety and physical and mental well-being,’” the group said in the letter, which was sent to the White House’s budget office and Gender Policy Council as well as the Office of Personnel Management. “Likewise, the administration should be able to provide federal workers with a reasonable amount of administrative leave to access reproductive health care for their health, safety and physical and mental well-being.”

A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment.

Given that the federal government is the nation’s largest employer, granting leave “would send a powerful message to America — and in particular, American employers,” said Stacey Young, the president of the Department of Justice Gender Equality Network.

As of now, about 150,000 federal employees in Texas and Mississippi have little access to abortion, and an additional 227,000 federal employees in 11 other states could immediately lose access to the procedure if the Supreme Court overturns Roe, the group said.

Already, several large companies, including Amazon, Citigroup and Yelp, have said they will cover some expenses for employees who must travel to receive certain medical procedures that are prohibited by state law, including abortion.

The adoption of such policies in the private sector could put pressure on the Biden administration to respond in kind, offering a way for employees to obtain an abortion without having to use their limited sick days and vacation time to do so.

“Employers can choose to provide accommodation, and the federal government is allowed to act like any other employer to a degree,” said Stephen I. Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas School of Law.

Granting leave could open the federal government up to lawsuits that claim the benefit violates the Hyde Amendment. Under the law, federal funds cannot be used to pay for abortions, except in special circumstances, like a birth that puts the mother in mortal danger.

The State of Roe v. Wade


Card 1 of 4

What is Roe v. Wade? Roe v. Wade is a landmark Supreme court decision that legalized abortion across the United States. The 7-2 ruling was announced on Jan. 22, 1973. Justice Harry A. Blackmun, a modest Midwestern Republican and a defender of the right to abortion, wrote the majority opinion.

What was the case about? The ruling struck down laws in many states that had barred abortion, declaring that they could not ban the procedure before the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb. That point, known as fetal viability, was around 28 weeks when Roe was decided. Today, most experts estimate it to be about 23 or 24 weeks.

What else did the case do? Roe v. Wade created a framework to govern abortion regulation based on the trimesters of pregnancy. In the first trimester, it allowed almost no regulations. In the second, it allowed regulations to protect women’s health. In the third, it allowed states to ban abortions so long as exceptions were made to protect the life and health of the mother. In 1992, the court tossed that framework, while affirming Roe’s essential holding.

Providing administrative leave “would not run afoul of the Hyde Amendment, which restricts the use of federal funding in most cases for an abortion procedure itself, but does not impose restrictions on ancillary accommodations,” the gender equality group argued in its letter.

Given that no federal money would be used to provide abortion care, it would be harder to make a claim that granting leave violates the amendment, said Melissa Murray, a professor at New York University School of Law.

Granting such a benefit could also pit government employees, and possibly the federal government itself, against states that have passed laws banning abortion.

If Roe is weakened or overturned, some critics say they expect legislation seeking to further limit abortion access to gain momentum. In Missouri, for example, lawmakers proposed legislation that would allow private citizens to sue anyone who helps people cross state lines for an abortion. Legal experts say it is conceivable that federal employees could be sued for violating such a law.

“There could be a separate fight over whether the federal government, by simply providing leave, creates a defense for those employees,” Mr. Vladeck said.

You Might Also Like

Trump posts weird meme of himself chasing Obama in O.J. Simpson spoof

The ‘new’ Andrew Cuomo hits the streets of NYC: Will it’s sufficient?

NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani brings in nationwide gamers in revamp of marketing campaign workers

Trump received’t rule out pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell amid Epstein scandal

Mayor Adams takes a swipe at Mamdani journey to Uganda, then says he was solely kidding round

TAGGED:AbortionJustice DepartmentMississippiPaid Time OffSupreme Court (US)TexasThe Washington Mail
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print

Follow US

Find US on Social Medias
FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
YoutubeSubscribe
TelegramFollow
Popular News
Vgames raises 2M for its third fund for gaming
Technology

Vgames raises $142M for its third fund for gaming

Editorial Board December 18, 2024
Three Animation Guild negotiating committee members oppose studio deal over AI
Actual-world research finds hydroxyurea efficient long-term in kids residing with sickle cell illness
Abdul Carter, Jalin Hyatt, Russell Wilson, Jaxson Dart on radar as Giants put together for OTAs
Pence and Jan. 6 Committee Engage in High-Stakes Dance Over Testimony

You Might Also Like

South Park creators provide cheeky ‘apology’ for episode mocking Trump
Politics

South Park creators provide cheeky ‘apology’ for episode mocking Trump

July 25, 2025
Hackers take over New Jersey election assembly with porn, racist language
Politics

Hackers take over New Jersey election assembly with porn, racist language

July 24, 2025
Hochul open to redistricting New York amid Trump push for Republican seats
Politics

Hochul open to redistricting New York amid Trump push for Republican seats

July 24, 2025
US cuts brief its Gaza ceasefire talks and accuses Hamas of missing ‘good faith’
Politics

US cuts brief its Gaza ceasefire talks and accuses Hamas of missing ‘good faith’

July 24, 2025

Categories

  • Health
  • Sports
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • World
  • Art

About US

New York Dawn is a proud and integral publication of the Enspirers News Group, embodying the values of journalistic integrity and excellence.
Company
  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • Accessibility Statement
Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability
Term of Use
  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices
© 2024 New York Dawn. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?