Center for Reproductive Rights Comments on Trump’s Appointment of Yoest to HHS

NEW YORK, April 28 -- The Center for Reproductive Rights issued the following news release:

President Donald Trump today announced his appointment of Charmaine Yoest to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services. Yoest--who previously served as president and CEO of Americans United for Life--is a leading crusader of the anti-choice movement and one of the key architects behind the more than 300 abortion restrictions enacted since 2011. In this new role, she will lead communications and external relations for the Department, including providing policy direction for public affairs activities and influencing implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights:

"Charmaine Yoest is a dangerous pick for a critical position in the agency responsible for maintaining the health and well-being of millions of Americans. As one of the most prominent anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ and anti-contraception activists in America, Charmaine Yoest's appointment signals a clear threat to a woman's constitutional right to access safe, legal abortion--as well as patent disregard for accurate, evidence-based medicine.

"President Trump is sending a clear message with this appointment as he wraps up his first 100 days in office: this administration is willing to sacrifice women's dignity and health to advance an extremist political agenda. The Center for Reproductive Rights will fight to ensure all women get the health care services they need free from political interference or alternative facts."