U.S. Senator Josh Hawley | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri has introduced the Defense of Conscience in Healthcare Act. This legislation aims to restore a policy from President Trump's first term, directing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to protect the conscience rights of healthcare providers.
Senator Hawley stated, "Our constitutional and God-given right to religious freedom isn’t nullified when someone puts on scrubs or a white coat." He criticized the Biden Administration for allegedly forcing people of faith to choose between their jobs and personal beliefs. "I am proud to help reverse the damage by introducing legislation protecting healthcare providers’ right to live out their faith," he added.
The proposed bill seeks to reinstate conscience protections for healthcare workers, such as doctors and nurses, which were established under the Trump Administration in 2019. These protections were reportedly weakened by President Biden’s HHS in 2024, leaving providers with moral and religious objections to certain procedures without clear legal guidance.
If passed, the Defense of Conscience in Healthcare Act would require HHS to quickly develop rules identical to those from 2019. The bill also aims to provide legal clarity and guidance ensuring federal conscience protection laws are enforced.
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