Judge temporarily pauses Trump administration's Planned Parenthood funding ban
Massachusetts U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued the temporary restraining order, directing the Health and Human Services Department to "take all steps necessary to ensure that Medicaid funding continues to be disbursed in the customary manner and timeframes" to Planned Parenthood.
The order will remain in effect for 14 days, and the judge will hear arguments on July 21 on whether to grant a longer pause on a provision of the administration's "big, beautiful bill," which President Donald Trump signed into law on Friday.
"We're grateful that the court acted swiftly to block this unconstitutional law attacking Planned Parenthood providers and patients," Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and Planned Parenthood Association of Utah said in a joint statement.
"Already, in states across the country, providers and health center staff have been forced to turn away patients who use Medicaid to get basic sexual and reproductive health care because President Trump and his backers in Congress passed a law to block them from going to Planned Parenthood," the statement said. "There are no other providers who can fill the gap if the 'defunding' of Planned Parenthood is allowed to stand. The fight is just beginning, and we look forward to our day in court."
The provision bans state Medicaid funding to healthcare groups "primarily engaged" in family planning services, reproductive health, and related medical care, including abortions, for one year.
Federal law prohibits healthcare providers from using federal Medicaid funds for abortions, unless the pregnancy endangers the life of the mother or is a result of rape or incest.
While the provision of the 'big beautiful bill" doesn't directly name Planned Parenthood, the group alleged in their lawsuit on Monday that it's "a naked attempt to leverage the government's spending power to attack and penalize Planned Parenthood and impermissibly single it out for unfavorable treatment."
The group claimed that the law violates its equal protection rights and retaliates against its protected speech.
In its lawsuit, Planned Parenthood said the law would have "catastrophic" consequences on the organization and its local affiliates around the country, which also provide non-abortion services like contraception, and screenings for cancer and sexually transmitted infections.
"Many Planned Parenthood Members will be required to lay off staff and curtail services, with serious adverse consequences for the many patients served at those centers even if they do not use Medicaid to access services," the lawsuit read. "Worse still, Members may be forced to shutter a substantial number of their health centers nationwide, many of which are in rural or underserved areas without alternative providers."
As a result of the one-year funding ban, Planned Parenthood said 200 of its health centers are at risk of closure, and over one million patients could lose access to care. More than 90% of the clinics at risk are located in states where abortion is still legal, the group said.
The Department of Justice declined to comment on the ruling and has yet to file any court documents in the case.
Katie Daniel, the legal affairs director and policy counsel for SBA Pro-Life America, an anti-abortion advocacy group, lambasted Planned Parenthood's lawsuit.
'Planned Parenthood's desperation is showing as they run to the courts again to fix a crisis of their own making. Life is winning and the nation's abortion giant won't be missed as their long decline continues,' Daniel said.
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