Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic Party's vice-presidential nominee, recently claimed that Project 2025, a conservative policy agenda, would establish a national system for tracking pregnancies.

Speaking at an event in Superior, Wisconsin, last Saturday, Walz described the plan as requiring women to "register with a new federal agency when you get pregnant," though the statement has since been debunked as wholly inaccurate, as CBS News reports.

Walz's comments were made in the context of the 2024 presidential race, as he and Vice President Kamala Harris campaign for the Democratic Party ticket.

The Harris-Walz team has actively criticized Project 2025, linking it to policies they claim would negatively affect reproductive rights. The governor's statement, however, mischaracterized the contents of the plan, as there is no mention of a federal pregnancy tracking agency in Project 2025.

Project 2025’s Focus on Abortion Data Collection

Project 2025 is a 900-page document compiled by conservative groups and former Trump administration officials. It outlines a range of policies that could shape a potential second Trump presidency. One of the key recommendations includes restrictions on abortion access, such as limitations on the use of abortion pills.

While the plan does not call for monitoring pregnancies through a federal agency, it does suggest that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collect specific abortion-related data from states. This data would include the number and method of abortions, the reasons behind each abortion, and details such as the gestation period at the time of the procedure. Information on the state of residence of those seeking abortions is also recommended for collection.

Walz’s claim that Project 2025 introduces a "national pregnancy coordinator" to monitor all pregnancies appears to stem from a misinterpretation of the plan’s proposals for data collection. However, the actual recommendations focus on abortion statistics rather than individual pregnancy monitoring.

Trump Distances Himself from Project 2025

Despite attempts to link Project 2025 to Donald Trump, the former president has distanced himself from the plan. Trump has publicly stated that he is not familiar with its contents, saying, "I know nothing about it," although some of the policies outlined in Project 2025 do align with some positions he has previously supported.

The Harris-Walz campaign has continued to use Project 2025 as a key talking point in their strategy to highlight what they see as the risks of a second Trump administration. However, the governor’s inaccurate portrayal of the plan’s content has raised questions about the use of political rhetoric in the ongoing debate over reproductive rights.

CDC's Role in Collecting Abortion Data

The recommendations in Project 2025 for the CDC to gather data from states have sparked controversy, particularly among advocates for reproductive rights. According to the plan, the CDC would be tasked with collecting detailed information about abortions, including the methods used, the reasons for the procedure, and other related data points.

While abortion data collection is already a practice in some states, Project 2025 suggests expanding this effort to create a more comprehensive national dataset. However, this is significantly different from the creation of a federal pregnancy monitoring system, as suggested by Walz.

Political Ramifications of Walz’s Statement

Walz’s mischaracterization of Project 2025's recommendations has fueled further debate in the ongoing battle over abortion rights in the United States. With both the Harris-Walz and Trump campaigns drawing clear lines on the issue, reproductive rights remain a central topic in the 2024 presidential race.

Although Walz’s statement was inaccurate, his criticism of Project 2025 fuels broader Democratic concerns about the potential for more restrictive abortion policies under a future Republican administration.

Project 2025 and Its Conservative Backing

Project 2025 has gained attention as a comprehensive policy document reflecting the priorities of conservative groups. It was developed by a coalition of think tanks and former Trump administration officials and offers a vision for how a future Republican administration might reshape federal policies.

While much of the focus has been on its abortion-related proposals, the document covers a wide range of issues, including government regulation, immigration, and education. The abortion data collection recommendations, in particular, have drawn strong reactions from both sides of the political spectrum.

Conclusion

Gov. Tim Walz's recent statement about Project 2025 inaccurately claimed that the plan includes a federal agency to monitor pregnancies.

While the conservative plan does recommend restrictions on abortion access and proposes that the CDC collect detailed abortion-related data, it does not suggest creating a national system for tracking pregnancies.

Walz's comments have brought attention to the ongoing debate over reproductive rights, with both the Democratic and Republican campaigns using Project 2025 as a focal point in their policy discussions.

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the discussion surrounding Project 2025 and its potential implications for abortion rights is likely to intensify.