Here’s What You Need to Know About the Hyde Amendment and Efforts to End It

The Hyde Amendment bans federal funding for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, and life endangerment. Though it’s often discussed as if it’s permanent law, it is not. Hyde is what as known as a “rider,” or amendment, that must be renewed each year with the bills that appropriate—or approve—funds for the government to operate.

Hyde blocks the use of funds from Medicaid—the federal program that provides insurance to people with low incomes—to cover the costs of abortion care. Following years of concerted advocacy by women of color, eliminating Hyde now has unprecedented support among Democrats—including most 2020 White House contenders.