September 30th, 2026, marked the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment—a provision enacted in 1976 in response to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized nationwide abortion. It restricts federally funded abortions through federal healthcare programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Lupe Rodriguez, Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice (NLIRJ) sits down to talk with us about Hyde’s tragic, dangerous legacy, and how it is past time for repeal.
Not only does the Hyde Amendment restrict funding under Medicare and Medicaid, but it does also so for certain disabled individuals under 65, and for certain community health centers providing primary care in underserved areas, as well. Seven states fund abortions under Medicaid and instances of life endangerment, rape and incest, and 21 states fund abortions beyond federal requirements and using their own resources. Yet, exceptions are not consistently applied.
The Hyde Amendment has prevented millions of people in the U.S. from accessing abortion. In 1977, unable to receive a needed and financially covered abortion shortly after the amendment’s passing, Rosie Jimenez sought an unsafe abortion and died from complications shortly thereafter. Today, the existing provisions of the Hyde Amendment, coupled with harm caused by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and ICE harassment, will continue to have a devastating impact on Latine communities and immigrants in the U.S.
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