www.nbcnews.com
Biden signs executive order to protect abortion access
President Biden will sign an executive order to protect access to abortion in response to the Supreme Court's ruling overturning the constitutional right to the procedure.
Politics
President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Friday to protect access to abortion as part of his administration's response to the Supreme Court's ruling last month overturning the constitutional right to the procedure.
The order aims to safeguard access to reproductive health care services, including abortion and contraception; protect patients' privacy and access to accurate information; and promote the safety and security of patients, providers and clinics, the White House said in a release.
Speaking at the White House on Friday, Biden called the Supreme Court decision "totally wrongheaded" and "extreme."
"The court has made clear it will not protect the rights of women," Biden said.
Biden's action comes as a growing number of states are adopting laws to restrict abortion services. The order directs the Department of Health and Human services to boost access to abortion pills and protect access to emergency medical care and family planning services, including various types of contraception, the White House said.
Still, Biden emphasized that the quickest way to undo the Supreme Court decision would be to pass a law in Congress legalizing abortion access, a move that Democrats currently do not have enough votes for.