Fed Probe Of NJ's Insurance Mandate For Abortion Draws Gov. Sherrill Rebuke

By Dana DiFilippo, New Jersey Monitor

March 23, 2026

The Trump administration announced Thursday it is investigating 13 states, including New Jersey, for requiring health care insurers to cover abortion services, even if they have moral or religious objections.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill quickly denounced the probe as a bold, “baseless” attack on abortion rights and vowed to defend New Jersey’s 2022 law, which was intended to strengthen reproductive rights here after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to an abortion in a ruling earlier that year.

“Donald Trump’s latest ‘investigation’ is nothing but a fishing expedition wasting taxpayers’ money. The Trump Administration wasting time and money is a disservice to our country, especially at a time when everyday prices are skyrocketing. This president’s ineffective leadership is having disastrous ramifications for our country. Costs are up, and the economy is suffering,” Sherrill said in a statement.

Investigators at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights launched their probe under a federal “conscience” law known as the Weldon Amendment, which shields health care workers and institutions that receive federal funding from penalties if they refuse to provide abortion, refer patients, or pay for or cover abortion care. The amendment has been part of the annual appropriations bill for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education since 2005.

Women’s rights groups have accused federal authorities of “weaponizing” the provision to reduce reproductive access.

But Paula M. Stannard, director of the Office for Civil Rights, said Thursday the amendment instead “protects Americans’ conscience rights.” Her office launched its investigations to address states’ “alleged disregard of, or confusion about, compliance with the Weldon Amendment,” Stannard said.

“Under the Weldon Amendment, health care entities, such as health insurance issuers and health plans, are protected from state discrimination for not paying for, or providing coverage of, abortion contrary to conscience. Period,” she said in a statement.

New Jersey has 20 days to comply with federal investigators’ request for data, according to a “compliance review” letter the feds sent Thursday to Justin Zimmerman, New Jersey’s insurance commissioner.

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