Even then, the gag rule did not go into effect because subsequent efforts to relax the rules somewhat to allow doctors (but not other health professionals) to counsel patients on the availability of abortion created another round of legal fights.
Eventually the rule was in effect for only about a month before it was again blocked by a U.S. appeals court. President Bill Clinton canceled the rules by executive order on his second day in office, and no other president tried to revive them until now.
How is the Trump administration’s proposal different from earlier rules?
According to the summary of the new proposal, released May 18, it will require physical separation of family planning and abortion facilities, repeal current counseling requirements, and ban abortion referrals.
One of the biggest differences, however, is that the new rules will not explicitly forbid abortion counseling by Title X providers.