The Supreme Court on Friday eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion in the US, overturning the landmark 1973 decision Roe v. Wade.
The court’s decision gives states the power to make their own laws on abortion, many of which are expected to ban or severely restrict access to abortion.
As the nation grapples with the impact of the ruling, several prominent executives from tech, entertainment and other industries have spoken out. Some companies have also said they’ll cover travel expenses for employees who can’t access abortions where they live.
Here’s a look at what companies and their leaders have said so far.
What executives say and companies are doing
Apple: The iPhone maker said it supports “employees’ rights to make their own decisions regarding their reproductive health.”
“For more than a decade, Apple’s comprehensive benefits have allowed our employees to travel out-of-state for medical care if it is unavailable in their home state,” said an Apple spokesperson.
Box: CEO Aaron Levie shared a statement from the file-sharing and cloud storage company, saying he was disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
“In light of the decision, we want to reaffirm that Box will continue to support paid time off and will also cover travel and medical expenses for employees to obtain critical reproductive health care services,” reads the statement Levie shared on Twitter. “We remain committed to creating a safe, equitable, and inclusive workplace for all Boxers.”
Bungie: Game studio Bungie said it was “undeterred” in its “commitment to stand up for reproductive choice and liberty.”
In a blog post, the company said it would implement a travel reimbursement program for employees to use when they or their dependents can’t access needed health care where they live.
Disney: Disney told employees on Friday that it’s “committed to providing comprehensive access to quality and affordable care,” including family planning and pregnancy termination.
The company offers travel benefits that let employees access medical treatments that may be unavailable in their location, said a Disney spokesperson. All US employees who opt in to Disney’s health care plan are eligible, including cast members at parks and resorts.
Meta: In a post on the social network, Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg said the ruling “jeopardizes the health and the lives of millions of girls and women” across the US.
“I cannot believe that I’m going to send my three daughters to college with fewer rights than I had,” Sandberg wrote. This is a huge setback. For ourselves, our daughters, and every generation that follows, we must keep up the fight.”
Meta didn’t immediately respond to a request for additional comment.
Uber: On Friday, the ride-hailing company reiterated to US employees that it provides “a range of reproductive health benefits, including pregnancy termination and travel expenses to access health care,” according to a spokesperson.
“We will also continue to stand behind drivers, reimbursing legal expenses if any driver is sued under state law for providing transportation on our platform to a clinic,” said the Uber spokesperson.
The company put that policy in place last year after Texas passed Senate Bill 8, a law that bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. It allows individuals to sue people aiding in an abortion, including doctors and people driving someone seeking an abortion to a clinic.
Yelp: Jeremy Stoppelman, CEO and co-founder of Yelp, said in a tweet that the Supreme Court ruling “puts women’s health in jeopardy, denies them their human rights, and threatens to dismantle the progress we’ve made toward gender equality in the workplace since Roe.” He called on business leaders to speak out against the “wave of abortion bans” triggered by the decision and call for Congress to codify the right to an abortion into law.
In April, the company expanded its health insurance coverage, which already included abortion care, to provide travel benefits to US employees and their dependents who may need to seek care out of state. In 2018, Yelp also undertook efforts to reduce misinformation on the reviews site and ensure it accurately categorized reproductive health care providers, which offer abortion services, and crisis pregnancy centers, which steer people to other options.
More notable reactions to Roe v. Wade being overturned
Bill Gates: In a tweet Friday, the co-founder of Microsoft said overturning Roe v. Wade is an “unjust and unacceptable setback. And it puts women’s lives at risk, especially the most disadvantaged.”
This is a sad day. Reversing Roe v. Wade is an unjust and unacceptable setback. And it puts women’s lives at risk, especially the most disadvantaged.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) June 24, 2022
Hillary Clinton: In a tweet Friday, the former secretary of state said: “Most Americans believe the decision to have a child is one of the most sacred decisions there is, and that such decisions should remain between patients and their doctors.” Clinton added that the Supreme Court decision will “live in infamy as a step backward for women’s rights and human rights.”
Most Americans believe the decision to have a child is one of the most sacred decisions there is, and that such decisions should remain between patients and their doctors.
Today’s Supreme Court opinion will live in infamy as a step backward for women’s rights and human rights.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 24, 2022
Michelle Obama: Former first lady Michelle Obama said in a statement posted to social media that she was “heartbroken for people around this country who just lost the fundamental right to make informed decisions about their own bodies.” She called the decision “horrifying” and “devastating” but encouraged people to take action by getting involved with organizations including Planned Parenthood and The United State of Women.
