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A federal judge in Philadelphia on Friday ordered the Trump administration not to enforce new rules that could significantly reduce women's access to free birth control. Judge Wendy Beetlestone issued the injunction, temporarily stopping the government from enforcing the policy change to former President Barack Obama's health care law. (Cornfield and Thanawala, 12/15)

In the lawsuit, filed by the State of Pennsylvania, the judge said the rules would cause irreparable harm because tens of thousands of women would lose contraceptive coverage. The Affordable Care Act contains no statutory language allowing federal agencies to create such “sweeping exemptions” to the law’s requirements to cover preventive services, Judge Beetlestone declared. (Pear, 12/15)

The judge, appointed by former President Barack Obama, said the exemptions the administration created to the contraceptive mandate were likely unlawful because they were too broad and had been implemented using improper procedures. Trump administration health officials hadn’t provided a compelling reason why the rules should take effect immediately rather than going through a more typical public comment period, she said. Judge Beetlestone’s ruling is likely to be an early step in a long court battle that could reach the U.S. Supreme Court. (Hackman, 12/15)

“The Commonwealth’s concern is absent available cost-effective contraception, women will either forgo contraception entirely or choose cheaper but less effective methods — individual choices which will result in an increase in unintended pregnancies,” Beetlestone wrote in her 44-page opinion. “That in turn will inflict economic harm on the Commonwealth because unintended pregnancies are more likely to impose additional costs on Pennsylvania’s state-funded health programs.” (Colliver, 12/15)

ObamaCare requires that most companies cover birth control as preventive care for women at no additional cost. The Trump administration rolled back the requirement earlier this year, arguing that it infringed on the religious and moral rights of some businesses. Other Democrat-led states have also sued the administration, including California. (Hellmann and Anapol, 12/15)