Today marks the 49th anniversary of the passage of the federal Hyde amendment. First passed in 1976, the annual amendment prevents federal taxpayer dollars from funding elective abortions through the Medicaid program. A substantial body of academic research finds that limits on taxpayer funding of abortions lowers abortion rates and saves lives. My new Lozier Institute policy analysis finds that the Hyde amendment has saved over 2.6 million lives since 1976.

Since the Supreme Court’s June 2022 Dobbs decision, there has been somewhat less attention given to the issue of taxpayer funding of abortion. Since Dobbs, states have been able to pass even stronger laws to protect the preborn. Also, pro-lifers have been rightly concerned about the recent increase in chemical abortions. In particular, political and legal efforts to stop telehealth abortions have gained salience.

That said, the issue of taxpayer funding of abortion remains important for pro-lifers. As Democrats have moved to the left on sanctity of life issues, some politically liberal states have started to cover elective abortions through Medicaid. Since 2018, Illinois, Maine, Rhode Island, and Nevada have all started to cover elective abortions through their respective state Medicaid programs. Additionally, Colorado’s Medicaid program will start to cover elective abortions in 2026.

Overall, the Hyde amendment still continues to save tens of thousands of lives in the approximately 19 states where abortion is legal but whose state Medicaid programs do not cover elective abortions. Opposition to taxpayer funding of abortion has consistently proven to be both good politics and good policy for pro-lifers. During the past 49 years, pro-life activists and pro-life elected officials have been wise to prioritize the Hyde amendment.