A federal judge in Philadelphia is imposing a nationwide injunction on new Trump administration rules that allowed more employers to opt out of providing women with no-cost birth control.
U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone issued the injunction Monday, stopping the government from enforcing rules scheduled to take effect imminently.
In her order, Beetlestone says states should be protected from the potential harm from the rule, which could include people losing contraceptive coverage and seeking state services.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who sued, calls the ruling a victory for the health and economic independence of women.
A federal judge in California on Sunday blocked the rules 13 states and Washington, D.C
California and the other states argued that the changes would force women to turn to state-funded programs for birth control and lead to unintended pregnancies.
The U.S. Department of Justice says the rules protect a small group of objectors from violating their beliefs.
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford filed friend-of-the-court briefs last Monday in Philadelphia and Oakland, California, to join lawsuits filed in 2017 by attorneys general in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California.
“Access to contraception is a critical medical need for many Nevadan women and essential to furthering women’s health and equality,” said Attorney General Aaron Ford. “Contraception also reduces health care costs for Nevada families, while providing the dignity of planning their future. I’m proud to be a part of an effort to make contraception as widely available and affordable as possible.”
A day after being sworn in, Democratic Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak issued a statement supporting Ford's filings.
"A woman's decision about her health and health care choices is not a luxury, it is a right," added Governor Sisolak. "The attempts to infringe upon the fundamental right to health and happiness cannot be tolerated. I am proud of the action taken by the State of Nevada and Attorney General Aaron Ford to stand up against this effort to roll back women's health care rights."
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
