Judge: Women could lose birth control under rule

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – A U.S. judge in California says new rules by the Trump administration would result in a substantial number of women losing birth control coverage.

Judge Haywood Gilliam made the comment Friday during a hearing in Oakland to decide whether to block the rules.

The changes set to go into effect on Monday would allow more employers, including publicly traded companies, to opt out of providing no-cost contraceptive coverage to women by claiming religious objections. Some private employers could also object on moral grounds.

The U.S. Department of Justice says the rules protect a small group of objectors from violating their beliefs.

California and other states argue that the changes would force women to turn to state-funded programs for birth control and lead to unintended pregnancies.

They want Gilliam to issue a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking the rules.