Washington state sues over President Trump’s abortion policy

SEATTLE – Washington state says it will sue to challenge President Donald Trump’s policy setting up new obstacles for women seeking abortions, days after the administration adopted it.

The administration said Friday it would bar taxpayer-funded family planning clinics from making abortion referrals. The administration is also prohibiting the clinics from being housed in the same locations as abortion providers.

Democratic Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has challenged other Trump policies, including the travel ban.

He scheduled a news conference Monday to announce the lawsuit.

The American Medical Association has warned that the policy could have an impact beyond abortion.

The association says the policy could affect access to health care services provided to low-income women by the clinics, including birth control, cancer screenings, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.