17 states sue EEOC over new employer abortion accommodation rule

A coalition of Republican attorneys general from 17 states filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over a new rule that requires employers to provide abortion accommodations under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

The rule, finalized in mid-April, mandates that most employers offer “reasonable accommodations” to workers related to pregnancy or childbirth, including providing time off for an abortion. The EEOC said in the rule that it does not require employers to pay for an abortion or provide paid time off for the procedure.