VINDICATED! Secretary Of Defense Apologizes For Harmful Mischaracterization Of Pro-Life Groups As Domestic Terrorists

By Bud Shaver, 

Albuquerque, New Mexico- On July 16, 2025 the Secretary of the Army, Dan Driscoll, issued an apology to Operation Rescue on behalf of the Department of Defense. For years the US Army held training seminars that vilified pro-life groups as domestic terrorists, which has been detrimental to the reputations of many pro-life groups including that of Abortion Free New Mexico leaders.

Here is an excerpt from the letter addressed to the American Center for Law and Justice, which represents Operation Rescue and its President, Troy Newman.

Thank you for your April 24, 2025, letter to the Secretary of Defense and to me regarding your client, Operation Rescue. I am responding for both of us.
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I was troubled to learn that an Army Army antiterrorism and protection training conducted at Fort Bragg, North Carolina had mischaracterized Operation Rescue, National Right to Life, and other pro-life groups as terrorist organizations.

This characterization was not only inaccurate but also deeply inappropriate.
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Let me be clear, the Army does not consider Operation Rescue, National Right to Life, and other pro-life groups as terrorist organizations."

 Driscol continued,

“While I cannot undo the harm that this training caused, I want to offer my sincerest apology to Operation Rescue, National Right to Life, and all pro-life groups negatively impacted by the false characterization of all pro-life organizations made by this training. Please be assured that I am firmly committed to rigorous oversight of all Army training materials to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.”

This apology was accepted by Operation Rescue President, Troy Newman but, unfortunately, it appears that the damage has already been done.

“I am glad to accept the Army’s apology, but the harm this has caused Operation Rescue has been incalculable,” said Newman. Being labeled a terrorist in these troubled times has carried with it a heavy burden on my staff and me.”

• Read Secretary Driscoll’s Letter.

​As pro-life missionaries and former interns of Operation Rescue, Abortion Free New Mexico leaders, Bud and Tara Shaver were directly targeted with this deeply harmful misinformation. Not only did Media Matters publish the articles below but groups like the former New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, now Faith Roots, petitioned the Archbishop of New Mexico to prevent the Shavers from making the state their mission field in 2010.

​Here are some examples from Media Matters:

What Media Should Know About The Anti-Choice Group Protest ABQ: Meet The Group That Has A History Of Targeting Abortion Providers, Has Connections To Violent Anti-Choice Groups, And Is Now Feeding Misinformation To A Congressional Panel 

Bud and Tara Shaver make no secret of their affiliations with Operation Rescue and its leader, anti-choice extremist Troy Newman. In 2010, Operation Rescue issued a press release announcing that it was “sending two missionaries to Albuquerque, New Mexico[.] According to Newman, “The Shavers have been a tremendous asset to Operation Rescue during their time with us and have done some amazing work. … the Shavers will continue to be a blessing to the pro-life efforts in Albuquerque as they work together with established organizations to end abortion in that community.”[Operation Rescue, 6/14/10]

And again:

Anti-abortion extremist group resurfaces to promote anti-choice misinformation in Wash. Times

In a June 20 article, The Washington Times gave an uncritical platform to a newly re-formed New Mexico anti-abortion group, Abortion Free New Mexico (AFNM). This group is the latest venture of longtime anti-choice extremists Bud and Tara Shaver. The Shavers are acolytes of Troy Newman, the head of the extreme anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, which has for years pushed violent rhetoric against, and harassment of, abortion providers. Prior to forming AFNM, the Shavers headed a similar campaign in New Mexico, called Protest ABQ. Protest ABQ operated from 2014 to March 2017 and not only targeted individual abortion providers and clinics, but also deceptively recorded comments made by clinic staff in order to allege wrongdoing. Before concluding the Protest ABQ campaign, the Shavers leaked their baseless information to a congressional panel investigating disproven claims against Planned Parenthood.

In the most troubling example, the Democrat Party of New Mexico took these false characterizations more seriously and directly tied our efforts to domestic terrorism:

​Pro-life activists tied to terrorism in abortion-crazed New Mexico"

• CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT

At the time, Tara Shaver, spokeswoman for Abortion Free New Mexico issued the following statement,

For over 12 years we have served New Mexico as pro-life missionaries and have run a successful pro-life ministry without any acts of violence. We have exposed the graphic truth about abortion and have peacefully sought to bring accountability to an out of control and completely unregulated abortion industry in New Mexico. Our goal is to end the atrocity of abortion while educating our culture to embrace women in crisis who are considering an abortion in order to help them rise above their circumstances.

For the Democrat Party of New Mexico to publish egregious misstatements with total disregard for the truth and accuse us of being extremists is the height of hypocrisy. It is the DPNM that is extreme in their view as they champion all abortions, even those up to the day of birth.

We love and value pregnant women from all walks of life and desire to protect them and their pre-born children. We will never waver from proclaiming the truth about the atrocity of abortion and will always stand up for the, 'least of these' among us. Our prayers go out to those who support abortion and we hope that those especially in Democrat Party of New Mexico would come to conversion and see how beautiful the gift of life truly is."

Abortion Free New Mexico and other pro-life groups have been rightly vindicated by the Department of Defense's investigation. For over 15 years pro-life leaders Bud and Tara Shaver have led a successful ministry free of violence or terrorism, instead they have lived out the gospel with the aim of building a culture of life in New Mexico. 

​Tara Shaver issued the following statement, 

For years our family has been attacked and slandered by the radical left in New Mexico because we unapologetically oppose the killing of pre-born children in their mother’s wombs. Now the record is set straight and our reputation is exonerated. It's time to move forward and help all New Mexicans value women, children and families and to oppose the lies of the left that only serves to stifle any political progress of building a culture of life.