Trump drops Biden-era lawsuit against Idaho abortion ban
March 6, 2025
The Trump administration has chosen to drop a lawsuit filed against Idaho during the Biden administration over a Gem state law banning abortions in nearly all circumstances.
The Christian Post reports that a stipulation of dismissal was filed Wednesday in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, Southern Division.
The document states that both parties, “stipulate to the dismissal, without prejudice, of all of the United States’ claims in this action, each party to bear their own attorney’s fees and costs. Thus, the Court’s preliminary injunction in this matter … is dissolved.”
The Biden administration had sued Idaho over its Defense of Life Act, claiming that the restrictive abortion law violated the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTLA).
Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador celebrated the dismissal, saying, “The goal of each is to save lives in every circumstance, both the mother and their unborn child. We are grateful that meddlesome DOJ litigation on this issue will no longer be an obstacle to Idaho enforcing its laws. Idaho will continue defending life as intended by the legislature and our people.”
According to the Christian Post, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) denounced the decision to end the lawsuit with chief political and advocacy officer Deirdre Schifeling stating, “Trump has sided with a radical fringe position that would put doctors who act to save the lives of their patients in jail and supports letting women die rather than access abortion.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued guidance shortly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, stating that EMTALA required hospital emergency staff to perform abortions.
Citing EMTALA as a justification, the Biden Department of Justice sued Idaho over its abortion ban, which only allowed the procedure if a mother was facing a medical emergency.
A three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Idaho in September 2023, overturning a lower court decision in favor of the HHS guidance.
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