Abortion Free New Mexico has announced that the Department of Defense issued a formal apology to Operation Rescue and other pro-life groups for being mischaracterized as domestic terrorists in past Army training materials.
On July 16, 2025, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll issued an apology on behalf of the Department of Defense to Operation Rescue and other pro-life organizations. These groups had been labeled as domestic terrorists during Army training seminars. In a letter addressed to the American Center for Law and Justice, Driscoll said that the Army does not view Operation Rescue, National Right to Life, or any pro-life group as terrorist organizations. He described the prior training content as "deeply inappropriate" and committed to implementing "rigorous oversight of all Army training materials" to prevent future misclassifications. Driscoll acknowledged the harm caused by this error, which pro-life leaders say has damaged reputations and placed them at risk.
According to statements from Tara Shaver, the pro-life leaders of Abortion Free New Mexico were directly affected by this mischaracterization by the Army. This was compounded by critical coverage from Media Matters and political pressure from state-based activist groups. Media Matters published multiple articles between 2010 and 2017 portraying Bud and Tara Shaver as extremists and linking their former group Protest ABQ to "violent anti-choice groups." In one instance, the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (now Faith Roots) petitioned the Archbishop of New Mexico in 2010 to block the Shavers from conducting missionary work in the state, further escalating reputational harm.
The Democrat Party of New Mexico intensified the controversy by publicly linking pro-life activists—including the Shavers—to domestic terrorism, citing their association with Operation Rescue. According to a report published by Abortion Free New Mexico, this claim was viewed by the group as a serious misrepresentation given their non-violent mission and record of peaceful activism. Shaver responded by defending their 12-year ministry as focused on helping women in crisis and exposing abortion practices without ever engaging in violent or extremist actions.
Abortion Free New Mexico is a pro‑life advocacy group founded in 2010 by Bud and Tara Shaver. They operate as full‑time missionary activists in New Mexico. The organization focuses on investigative research, public exposure, and accountability efforts aimed at closing abortion facilities in New Mexico, guided by their said mission to protect pre-born children and support women in crisis.
