Issues, Etc. A Delay in the Centers for Disease Control’s Annual Abortion Report – Dr. Michael New, 12/8/25 (3423)
Dec 8, 2025
Dr. Michael New, a visiting assistant professor at the Catholic University of America and a senior associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, dives into the recent delays in the CDC's annual abortion report. He highlights the limitations of CDC statistics and discusses the impact of personnel changes at HHS leading to halted data collection. New also addresses gaps in state reporting and the challenges posed by chemical abortions, urging pro-life advocates to push for better data practices to understand the effects of pro-life laws.
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CDC Data Is Imperfect But Informative
- The CDC's annual abortion data is delayed and incomplete but still the best available national source.
- Dr. Michael New says the data shows a long-term decline in U.S. abortion rates since 1980, reflecting pro-life efforts.
Personnel Turnover Caused The Delay
- The 2023 CDC abortion report was delayed due to internal HHS/CDC personnel changes and miscommunication.
- Dr. Michael New says the issue has been fixed and 2023 data should be released in spring 2026.
Key States And Details Are Missing
- Major gaps undermine CDC completeness: California hasn't reported since 1997 and other states often omit details.
- Missing large states and gestational or age data limit national understanding of who obtains abortions.