Washington DC – The Justice Department (DOJ) announced on Monday it is looking for ways to "protect" women who could be impacted by Texas' six-week abortion ban.

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced in a press release that his department would be using the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act to "protect those seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services."

The FACE Act makes it illegal to physically prevent or use threats to intimidate a woman seeking an abortion, as well as prohibits the destruction of property at reproductive health clinics.

"The department will provide support from federal law enforcement when an abortion clinic or reproductive health center is under attack," Garland said.

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"We will not tolerate violence against those seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services, physical obstruction or property damage in violation of the FACE Act."

The news came one week after Texas implemented a law that effectively bans abortions in the state as early as six weeks – before most women even know they are pregnant.

Under the Texas law, private citizens are empowered to report and sue anyone they accuse of being remotely involved in helping a woman get an abortion.

Legal fines can reach up to $10,000 per procedure, which would quickly send abortion providers into bankruptcy. Even if those accused win their legal cases, they cannot recover any legal fees.

The Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision decided not to block the law on procedural grounds, but that hasn't stopped Biden's Justice Department from trying to find ways around the ban.

Garland said the DOJ will also be exploring options of curbing enforcement of the Texas law, though he didn't go into any specifics on how that would be done.