Planned Parenthood sues Trump over $792 billion funding ban

In the United States, Planned Parenthood has initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration following the enactment of a budget reconciliation bill that defunds the organization through Medicaid for one year. The bill, often referred to as the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025, and prohibits Medicaid users from obtaining coverage from providers that offer abortion services. Although the new law does not specifically mention Planned Parenthood, the organization argues that it directly targets its services, which include crucial health care provisions beyond abortion such as birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing. Planned Parenthood claims that nearly 200 of its clinics in 24 states could face closure due to this funding cut, with the majority—90% of those closures—occurring in states where abortion remains legal. The organization's CEO, Alexis McGill Johnson, emphasized that patient access to necessary health care services relies on the support that the bill aims to remove. The provision, initially intended to bar funding for ten years, was subsequently modified by the Senate Parliamentarian to one year. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, contests the legality of the funding ban, with Planned Parenthood arguing that it represents a targeted attack on their healthcare services. The case is being presided over by Judge Indira Talwani, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama. Planned Parenthood's legal woes persist as they also oppose other cuts made by the Trump administration, which have impacted multiple health programs that serve marginalized communities. The controversy surrounding the funding ban has drawn reactions from both sides of the abortion debate. While advocates for reproductive rights describe the measure as a significant loss for women's health and access to care, anti-abortion groups have criticized Planned Parenthood for pursuing legal avenues they claim stem from a self-created crisis. Additionally, the organization has suggested that the repercussions of defunding could affect more than a million women who depend on its range of reproductive and preventative health services.