Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, in collaboration with Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, has initiated a lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The legal action involves 17 states challenging a new EEOC rule that mandates workplace accommodations for abortions, which they argue is an illegal interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2022 (PWFA).
Skrmetti stated, "Congress passed the bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to protect mothers-to-be and promote healthy pregnancies, and the EEOC's attempt to rewrite that law into an abortion mandate is illegal." He expressed pride in leading the coalition to "protect the rule of law against this unconstitutional federal overreach."
The PWFA was designed to ensure pregnant women receive necessary workplace accommodations for their health and comfort. It garnered support from various lawmakers, business groups, and nonprofit organizations due to its pro-family objectives.
However, the coalition argues that the EEOC's new rule misappropriates these protections by obligating employers to accommodate elective abortions—a requirement not authorized by the Act. They contend this constitutes an unconstitutional overreach infringing on state laws and exceeding the agency’s authority.
If upheld, Tennessee and other plaintiff states claim they would need to allocate resources towards supporting elective abortions or face federal penalties, even in states where such procedures are restricted. The lawsuit seeks to block this mandate.
States joining Tennessee and Arkansas in this legal challenge include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia.