Youngkin orders probe into Virginia schools funding abortions for minors without parental consent

Virginia's Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday instructed the Virginia State Police to conduct a criminal investigation into allegations that schools in Fairfax County funded abortions for minors without parental consent.

The governor's office highlighted reports that school officials may have arranged and paid for abortions for multiple minors without notifying the students' parents, which Youngkin argued would be a violation of parental rights. 

Fairfax County Superintendent Michelle Reid told school administrators and the Fairfax community that the allegations would be "unacceptable" if true and has launched her own investigation into the allegations, per ABC7 News.

"I am deeply concerned with the allegations that Fairfax County Public Schools officials arranged for minors to get abortions without parental consent and may have misused public funds to pay for them," Youngkin said. "I am directing the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation to open a full criminal investigation into the matter immediately."

Youngkin said the school district has a history of disrespecting parental rights of its students, and argued parents have a fundamental right to make all significant decisions that directly impact their children.

Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running to replace the term-limited Youngkin in November, said she supports the investigation into the Fairfax school district.

“The allegations that Fairfax County Public Schools provided minors with access to abortion services without any parental knowledge or consent is abhorrent,” Earle-Sears said. “Our Administration looks forward to the results of [the Virginia police] investigation and will take the appropriate action to ensure the safety of all students.”

The school declined to publicly comment on the allegations but said it would "fully cooperate" with the investigation.

The governor's office said anyone with information related to the allegations should contact Virginia State Police at vfc@vfc.vsp.virginia.gov or (804) 674-2196.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.