Anti-abortion advocates are excited about Donald Trump’s return to leadership, despite some frustrations concerning his reluctance to impose national restrictions.

They are now cautiously hopeful about what his next administration might accomplish for their cause.

“President Trump has made it clear that he does not see abortion as a federal matter – a view I strongly oppose,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America. “Nevertheless, we can find ways to collaborate with him.”

While a nationwide abortion ban seems unlikely, Hawkins and others feel optimistic about alternative measures they might pursue with Trump and his administration, such as cutting government funding for Planned Parenthood. However, anti-abortion activists have expressed concerns over some of Trump’s other appointments, such as nominating Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former Democrat who is perceived to have softer views on abortion, for the role of Secretary of Health and Human Services.

As a candidate in the 2024 election, Trump has consistently stated that he would not endorse a national abortion ban, adding last month on Truth Social that he “would, in fact, veto it.”

Trump suggests that individual states should determine their own abortion regulations. This authority returned to states following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that established a constitutional right to abortion.

“I successfully ended Roe v. Wade,” Trump asserted in a Truth Social post last May. He frequently highlights his judicial appointments that created a conservative majority on the Supreme Court.

Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, heavily focused on reproductive rights and women’s issues during their campaigns this year. The party had seen several successes in the 2022 midterm elections soon after the Supreme Court’s contentious ruling.

In general, the standalone abortion issue performed well: among ten states that proposed related ballot measures, voters in seven states passed constitutional amendments to secure abortion access. However, in these states, voters also rejected Democratic candidates, including Harris, who pushed for and often centered their campaigns around abortion rights.

“This election shows that abortion was not the decisive factor Democrats believed it would be,” stated Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, commending Trump for his victory.

Meanwhile, 2024 turned out to be favorable for Trump’s party, with Republicans gaining control of the Senate and maintaining the House majority. With a Republican trifecta in place, Trump may have a more straightforward path to advancing his legislative agenda.

Anti-abortion leaders indicate they will push to ensure their priorities are included in this agenda.

Is a national abortion ban possible under Trump?

The conversation over a national abortion ban was prominent in the 2024 presidential campaign, particularly as Harris and other Democrats criticized Trump, asserting he might indeed support a federal limitation.

However, Trump has upheld his stance favoring state-level governance of the issue, which has become the primary disagreement between Trump and groups like SBA Pro-Life and Students for Life.

“We envision a robust agenda under the Trump administration, and I believe there is a pathway forward,” Hawkins stated. Yet, “I don’t believe the pro-life movement will achieve all its objectives with this administration.”

This includes any attempt to implement national regulations, which would struggle to meet the 60-vote threshold in a 53-47 Republican majority Senate. Given that several GOP lawmakers echo Trump’s position on state-level control, the chances of a federal proposal seem dim.

Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, expressed that implementing a national abortion ban is not suitable. He acknowledged the potential controversy surrounding his perspective, emphasizing his own “pro-life” stance in his political journey.

“Those who aim to go too far with this are jeopardizing unborn lives,” he stated. “It’s essential to understand the concerns of your constituents and focus on saving lives one at a time, which can be achieved by shaping effective policies at the state level.”

Karoline Leavitt, a representative for Trump’s transition team, did not answer directly regarding Trump’s readiness to enforce a national abortion limit. However, she stated, “The American people re-elected President Trump by a significant margin, giving him a mandate to fulfill his campaign promises. He will deliver.”

What other goals do abortion opponents have? Starting with defunding Planned Parenthood

Abortion opponents have additional objectives they hope to pursue with the upcoming administration and Congress.

One of their main goals is to cut government funds to Planned Parenthood. This organization, which provides various sexual health services including STD screenings and treatments, received over $1 billion in government support from 2019 to 2021.

Other items on their agenda include seeking pardons for anti-abortion activists convicted of obstructing clinics and attempting to reverse the FDA approval of abortion medications.

Lila Rose, an anti-abortion activist and president of Live Action, remarked, “Having pro-life majorities in Congress presents a great opportunity. I hope it’s capitalized upon.”

The Trump administration could potentially overturn many initiatives established by the Biden administration concerning reproductive rights.

These initiatives include a recent plan to provide free over-the-counter birth control, and Biden’s executive order from August 2022 aimed at aiding those who travel to other states for abortion services. This order directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to explore “all appropriate actions” to enhance access to reproductive healthcare.

RFK Jr. receives a lukewarm response from anti-abortion factions

With Trump, the Department of Health and Human Services is likely to adopt a different strategy, especially with his selection for secretary in mind.

Trump has appointed Kennedy, a former presidential candidate and now an ally, to head the department. His selection, known for his controversial views on vaccines, has sparked debate among Democrats. However, some anti-abortion advocates have raised concerns due to Kennedy’s relatively moderate stance on abortion.

Kennedy previously stated that decisions regarding late-term abortions should be left to women rather than politicians. He has updated his position to support legalizing abortions until the point of viability, when a fetus can survive outside the womb.

Rose criticized this viewpoint, labeling it as “barbaric and inhumane.”

“Mr. Kennedy’s shift in opinion this year, from endorsing abortion at any stage to backing it up to approximately 22 weeks, indicates that he can alter his views when faced with new information,” Rose commented.

If he assumes this role, Kennedy would be positioned to guide the Trump administration’s reproductive health policies, with the power to implement limitations on the abortion medication mifepristone.

Republican senators, who are responsible for confirming Kennedy, believe he will follow Trump’s directives.

“He works at the pleasure of the president,” stated Senator Josh Hawley, R-Ark. “Cabinet members aren’t independent thinkers; their role is to serve the administration, which I assume is why he seeks this position.”