OCR to Prioritize Enforcement of Conscience, Religious Protections
- January 31, 2025
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will prioritize enforcement of laws protecting rights of conscience and religious exercise, HHS Acting Secretary Dorthy Fink said in a January 27 statement.
According to the statement, OCR “will reevaluate its regulations and guidance pertaining to Federal laws on conscience and religious exercise.”
Specifically, HHS “will reevaluate all programs, regulations, and guidance to ensure Federal taxpayer dollars are not being used to pay for or promote elective abortion, consistent with the Hyde Amendment,” the statement said.