The data – which gives us an idea of how many abortions were performed and where – tends to be released around Thanksgiving. National Review reports that it now appears that it will be spring before the data is released.
A Live Action News article on this topic by Carole Novielli included a statement from Department of Health and humans Services (HHS) press secretary Emily Hilliard indicating that former CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry was responsible for the delay. Houry directed CDC staff to return state-submitted abortion data instead of analyzing it. Hilliard added that the issue is being addressed and that the CDC plans to release updated abortion data sometime in the spring of 2026.
Pro-life activist Michael New is an assistant professor of practice at the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America and a senior associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute. He looks forward to the data, adding that it serves an important purpose.
"It's important to be able to gauge the impact of pro-life laws and make a strong case that, if you do pass a pro-life law, lives will be saved," says New. "I think the CDC is also useful at showing that we've made some very good long-term progress at getting the abortion rate down."
For example, between 1980 and 2017, New informs that the abortion rate was cut in half in this country.
"That's a big accomplishment," says New. "If the abortion rate today was at its 1980 peak, there'd be a million more abortions taking place every year. So, by getting involved, pro-lifers save a million lives every year, and we spare a million women from a lifetime of regret."
With more time to receive, compile, and publish the data, New hopes that pro-lifers get more timely, more accurate, and better data. The CDC acquires their abortion numbers from voluntary state reporting and includes additional information such as race and gestational age.
