Planned Parenthood announced on 30th of March that the Trump administration would halt federal funding for family planning programs starting 1st of April, impacting services such as birth control, cancer screenings, and other healthcare support for low-income individuals.
According to Planned Parenthood, nine of its affiliates received notifications that funding under Title X—a federal program supporting healthcare services for low-income communities since 1970—would be withheld. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) planned to freeze $27.5 million in grants for organizations, including Planned Parenthood.
The organization stated that over 300 health centers are part of the Title X network, collectively serving more than 1.5 million visits in 2023. However, it did not specify the exact amount of funding that would be cut.
Neither the White House nor HHS immediately responded to Reuters’ request for comment. An HHS spokesperson previously stated that the department was reviewing grant recipients to ensure compliance with President Donald Trump’s executive orders.
Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, warned that the funding cut could lead to undetected cancers, restricted access to birth control, and a rise in sexually transmitted infections.
“President Trump and Elon Musk are advancing their harmful political agenda, stripping healthcare access from people nationwide without considering the devastating consequences,” McGill Johnson said in a statement.
Trump has appointed billionaire Elon Musk—who played a key role in his election campaign—to lead an initiative focused on cutting government spending.
Conservative lawmakers have long sought to defund Planned Parenthood due to its abortion services. However, federal funding for most abortion procedures has been prohibited since 1977.
