Over 50 Companies Protest Texas Abortion Ban Citing Economic Harm
A coalition of more than 50 companies signs a letter arguing that Texas's strict abortion ban hurts business and causes massive economic losses. The corporate backlash grows as polls show a potential brain drain of college-educated workers leaving the state.
Over 50 companies sign a coordinated letter titled "Don't Ban Equality" to protest Texas's strict six-week abortion ban, arguing that restrictive reproductive health policies are bad for business. Signatories of the letter include major brands like Lyft, Yelp, Glossier, and the Austin-based dating app Bumble. This organized corporate outcry marks the largest pushback from the business sector since the controversial law takes effect.
The letter highlights the severe financial consequences of the ban, citing data from the Institute for Women's Policy Research. It notes that existing abortion restrictions already cost the state of Texas an estimated $14.5 billion annually due to labor force reductions and lost earnings. On a national scale, state-level abortion restrictions cost state economies a staggering $105 billion per year.
A potential brain drain looms over Texas as a recent poll reveals that two-thirds of college-educated respondents say the law discourages them from working in the state. While many companies remain quiet, a few early outliers take direct action to support their employees. Salesforce and the tech PR firm Bospar pledge to help workers relocate if they face concerns about accessing reproductive care, while ride-share giants Lyft and Uber offer to cover legal fees for drivers sued under the new law.