White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday that the notion of using federal lands to perform abortions in states that restrict the procedure could lead to "dangerous ramifications."
Progressive lawmakers, namely Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have floated the idea that abortions could be performed on federal lands after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday.
Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, Jean-Pierre said the idea of using federal or tribal lands could put both women and abortion providers in legal jeopardy.
"So with this proposal — we understand the proposal is well intentioned, but here's the thing: It could actually put women and providers at risk," Jean-Pierre said during a press gaggle. "And importantly, in states where abortion is now illegal, women and providers who are not federal employees — as you look at the federal lands — could be — potentially be prosecuted.
"And so, this is — as we understand why they would put forward this proposal, there's actually dangerous ramifications to doing this."
Jean-Pierre spoke as President Joe Biden traveled to Madrid to join other NATO leaders for a summit.
Warren on Sunday said the Supreme Court has "lost legitimacy" with its ruling overturning a nearly 50-year-old federal abortion right. She argued the high court needs to be expanded.
"This court has lost legitimacy," she told ABC News' "This Week." "They have burned whatever legitimacy they may still have had after their gun decision, after their voting decision, after their union decision. They just took the last of it and set a torch to it with the Roe v. Wade opinion.
"I believe we need to get some confidence back in our court, and that means we need more justices on the United States Supreme Court."
Following the announcement of the court's decision, Ocasio-Cortez appeared before the Supreme Court building and chanted "illegitimate" with a number of protesters, while also calling for dissenters to go "into the streets."
"People will die because of this decision," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. "And we will never stop until abortion rights are restored in the United States of America."
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., another progressive, joined protesters in front of the Supreme Court building Friday and shouted: "Women are going to control their bodies, no matter how they try and stop us. The hell with the Supreme Court, we will defy them."
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