Pro-Life GOP Targets FACE Act For Repeal

Group holding prolife and antiabortion signs at rally

House Republicans are leading a push to repeal the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a controversial law they claim has been weaponized against pro-life Americans while pro-abortion activists have largely escaped prosecution.

Key Takeaways

Rep. Chip Roy of Texas and more than 20 House Republicans are supporting legislation to repeal the FACE Act, a federal law making it a crime to obstruct access to reproductive health facilities.
Data shows 97% of FACE Act prosecutions over the last 20 years have targeted pro-life activists, with enforcement intensifying since the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Republican lawmakers argue the law is redundant as state laws already address criminal actions and claim the Biden administration has selectively enforced it against pro-life activists.
The GOP’s effort comes as President Trump has taken executive action to prevent the FACE Act from being used against activists during his term.
Despite Republican control of the House, Senate, and White House, internal opposition has stalled the repeal effort, prompting Rep. Roy to threaten a discharge petition.

Republican-Led Effort to Dismantle the FACE Act

Representative Chip Roy of Texas is spearheading a legislative push to repeal the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, with more than 20 House Republicans joining as co-sponsors. The FACE Act, enacted in 1994, makes it a federal crime to use threats, obstruction, or property damage to interfere with reproductive health services. Roy and his supporters argue the law has been disproportionately applied against pro-life activists while rarely being used to prosecute those who attack pro-life organizations and pregnancy resource centers.

“Americans just spent the last four years being targeted by a weaponized justice system. The FACE Act was one of the primary weapons of abuse—being used to politically target, arrest, and jail pro-life Americans for speaking out and standing up for life,” said Rep. Chip Roy.

Data Shows Disproportionate Enforcement

The push for repeal is bolstered by Justice Department data indicating that 97% of FACE Act prosecutions in the last 20 years have targeted abortion opponents. Enforcement has notably intensified under the Biden administration following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022. Pro-life groups point to this statistical disparity as evidence of political bias in the application of the law. The coalition of organizations supporting repeal includes prominent groups such as Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Family Research Council, Students For Life Action, and The Thomas More Society.

Recent Prosecutions Fuel Repeal Movement

The movement to repeal the FACE Act gained momentum after the Biden administration prosecuted several pro-life activists, including a highly publicized case where ten defendants received prison sentences for violating the Act during a 2020 abortion clinic blockade. These prosecutions have galvanized conservative groups, with many urging President Trump to pardon pro-life activists convicted under the law. The administration’s enforcement approach has sparked accusations that the Justice Department is selectively targeting pro-life activists while ignoring attacks on crisis pregnancy centers and pro-life organizations.

“The last administration brazenly weaponized the FACE Act against pro-life Americans—even going as far as putting a grandmother in jail. But pro-lifers should never fear going to prison simply for praying outside an abortion clinic,” said Rep. Mark Harris.

Political Challenges Within the GOP

Despite Republican control of the House, Senate, and White House, the repeal effort faces internal opposition. Rep. Roy has expressed frustration with the pace of progress, threatening to file a discharge petition to move the bill forward if it remains stalled in committee. Advocates for repeal argue that existing state laws already address the criminal actions covered by the FACE Act, making the federal law redundant and potentially unconstitutional. They also point to the Trump administration’s executive actions to prevent misuse of the Act as a positive step but maintain that full repeal is necessary to prevent future abuse.

“If my Republican colleagues continue to refuse to bring the FACE Act up for a vote in committee or the floor, I will file a discharge petition, and I will start to try to move the bill, irrespective of the normal procedures. I’m not going to sit back and wait while people hide and refuse to bring something forward because, ‘oh, no, this might be a little bit more controversial than just moving another continuing resolution.’ It is time that we change,” said Rep. Chip Roy.

The White House has not yet commented on the repeal bill, but the proposal represents a significant moment in the ongoing national debate over abortion policy and the balance between protecting First Amendment rights and ensuring access to reproductive health services.