Pro-life leaders standing firm on Hyde Amendment, asking Republicans to do the same 

President Donald Trump told GOP congressional members last week to be “flexible” on the Hyde Amendment, which protects taxpayer dollars from funding abortion, but pro-life leaders remain resolute.

“Let the money go directly to the people,” Trump said, encouraging Republicans to reach a deal on the healthcare funding bill. “Now you have to be a little flexible on Hyde. You know that. You gotta be a little flexible. You gotta work something. You gotta use ingenuity.” 

Pro-life leaders responded in loud defense of Hyde, calling congressional leaders not to compromise on life. 

“The GOP must stand firm for human life,” President of Live Action Lila Rose said in a post on X. “No exceptions. No inch given. If you sacrifice Hyde, you sacrifice innocent human children.” 

The Hyde Amendment’s restriction on tax dollars to fund abortion has saved 2.6 million lives, according to a post from the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), with the tag “HandsOffHyde.” 

“Protect life, protect conscience, protect taxpayers,” the post reads. 

Just last year, however, at the start of his second term, Trump reinstated the Hyde Amendment in an executive order after President Joe Biden had “disregarded this established, commonsense policy by embedding forced taxpayer funding of elective abortions in a wide variety of Federal programs.” 

Patrick Brown, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, told The Hill Trump’s recent call for compromise reveals a growing gap between the administration’s priorities and those of the pro-life movement. 

“A lot of pro-lifers took that as kind of an open declaration that there is significant daylight between the White House’s political priorities and what the pro-life movement cares about,” Brown said. 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, however, told media Trump’s call for flexibility “did not change the administration’s policy.” She cited the administration’s actions “to ensure taxpayer dollars are not funding the practice of abortion.” 

Many pro-life groups have viewed Trump as an ally, especially following the overturn of Roe v. Wade – the case that legalized abortion nationally – thanks to Trump’s appointment of three conservative Supreme Court justices during his first term. 

Additionally, Congress cut federal funding for Planned Parenthood for a year by passing the Big Beautiful Bill, which Trump strongly supported and signed into law last summer. 

Noah Brandt, vice president of communication at Live Action, told The Hill pro-life groups appreciate the administration’s actions so far but hope other issues will be addressed. 

“In some ways, the administration has lived up to expectations … and in some ways, we’re still waiting for them to do these really important actions, especially as they pertain to the abortion pill and Hyde,” Brandt said, referencing the recent discontent over a delayed safety review of the chemical abortion pill. 

President of NRLC Carol Tobias told The Hill Trump’s background as a businessman and “deal-maker” explains his directive to Congress to be “flexible on Hyde.” 

“I don’t think he’s moving away from pro-life policies. He’s a deal-maker, so is always looking for ways to come to an agreement,” Tobias said. “It’s just that, when it comes to protecting the lives of innocent pre-born babies, life must prevail.” 

Meanwhile, the House passed a healthcare bill Thursday that extends the debated Affordable Care Act for three years, despite many Republicans’ demands for stricter Hyde protections. The bill is before the Senate and needs a two-thirds majority to pass. 

A group of bipartisan senators, however, is considering a compromise to “increase penalties and audits for insurance plans” and ensure funds for abortion are separate from other healthcare funds, Politico reports. The group failed to reach a deal Tuesday, pushing a potential vote on the bill to the last week in January, according to Politico. 

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said, “there is no compromise on taxpayer funding of abortion.” Nearly 6 in 10 Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion, according to SBA’s Tuesday press release. 

“Many Americans already view Hyde as a compromise as long as abortion remains legal,” Dannenfelser said in the statement. “If abortion is legal, at the very least, taxpayers should not be forced to fund it.”