The "Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2025" prohibits federal funding to colleges or universities that host or are affiliated with school-based service sites that provide abortion drugs or abortions to students or employees. Institutions must annually certify compliance to maintain eligibility for federal funds.
Steve Daines
Senator
MT
The "Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2025" prohibits federal funding to colleges and universities that host or are affiliated with school-based service sites that provide abortion drugs or abortions to students or employees. To remain eligible for federal funds, these institutions must annually certify that their school-based service sites do not offer these services. Compliance with this law protects institutions from penalties under state law.
Federal Funds Cut for Colleges Providing Abortion Services: 'Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2025'
The "Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2025" blocks federal funding to any college or university with a health clinic that provides abortion drugs or abortions. This means any federal money—for research, student aid, you name it—is off the table if a school's clinic offers these services.
No Choice for Colleges?
To keep receiving federal funds, institutions must annually certify to the Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Services that they do not provide abortion drugs or abortions. The bill defines "abortion drug" pretty broadly, including "any drug or substance" used to terminate a pregnancy, with narrow exceptions (SEC. 2). This definition could potentially impact medications used for things other than elective abortion, like miscarriage management.
Real-World Impacts: Students and Staff
Imagine a student relying on their campus clinic for reproductive healthcare. This bill could force them to seek those services elsewhere, potentially incurring extra costs and travel time. For some, it might mean going without care altogether. The same goes for university employees who use these clinics. The bill's broad definition of "abortion drug" could also limit access to medications for managing miscarriages or other related health issues, directly affecting students and staff.
Legal Mess Ahead?
The bill states that institutions complying with this federal law are protected from conflicting state laws (SEC. 2). So, a college in a state where abortion is legal might face a dilemma: comply with federal law and lose funding, or comply with state law and lose federal funding. This sets up a potential legal showdown and a whole lot of uncertainty for these institutions, and by extension, the students and staff who rely on them. The requirement to report annually will also put a lot of paperwork and pressure on the institutions and could lead to extra scrutiny of their health services.