Over 150 Pro-Life Groups Call on Congress to Cut Funding for Planned Parenthood

FIRST ON FOX: A coalition comprising more than 150 state and national pro-life organizations has reached out to Congress with a strong message. In a letter sent on Wednesday, these groups urged lawmakers to cut Medicaid funding for what they describe as “Big Abortion,” primarily targeting Planned Parenthood, through budget reconciliation.

Budget reconciliation serves as a special legislative process designed for Congress to adjust spending, revenue, and the federal debt limit. This method could significantly impact how funds are allocated to abortion services and related organizations.

The coalition has lauded the previous efforts made during the Trump administration to curb the so-called “abortion agenda” established under President Joe Biden. They also expressed gratitude for initiatives aimed at reducing government waste, including actions taken by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. The group stressed that a Republican command in Congress presents an opportunity to intensify measures against federal funding for abortion providers.

Following Donald Trump’s electoral win, and his subsequent pardons for pro-life advocates targeted by the Biden administration’s Department of Justice, pro-life conservatives are reshaping their strategies to limit abortion providers’ access to federal funds.

According to the letter from these pro-life organizations, previous Republican reconciliation bills in 2015 and 2017 contained measures aimed at halting subsidies for Big Abortion. They pointed out, “In 2025, it is even more critical to cease funding for this industry that poses risks to women and unborn children, while also spending millions promoting liberal policies and candidates. Planned Parenthood has already been flagged for funding cuts, as referenced by Musk in a Wall Street Journal piece last November.”

Continuing Trends in Federal Funding

Trump’s administration managed to “roll back” overseas funding for abortion providers through an executive order reinforcing the Hyde Amendment. This law prohibits federal funds from being allocated for abortion services. The present letter reinforces that congressional action is vital in cutting off taxpayer funding for domestic abortion services through Medicaid.

The Hyde Amendment determines the federal thresholds for abortion funding, yet individual states retain the power to alter Medicaid coverage. Some states may extend Medicaid support for abortion services beyond the limitations established by the Hyde Amendment, whereas others do not.

Recent legislative efforts have sprouted in both the House and Senate, where lawmakers have introduced bills aimed at reducing federal assistance for Planned Parenthood. In January, Representative Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn., introduced the “Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2025,” proposing a one-year suspension of federal funding for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates.

Further Legislative Proposals

In conjunction with Fischbach, Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo., introduced the “End Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Providers Act” in January. This bill seeks to terminate funding for Planned Parenthood and similar organizations nationwide. Senators Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., alongside six additional lawmakers, also supported the reintroduction of this legislation.

In the previous election cycle, Planned Parenthood, the foremost provider of abortion services in the United States, allocated nearly $70 million from its political action committee to endorse pro-abortion candidates and advocate for abortion-friendly ballot measures across various states. Abortion emerged as a key issue for the Democrat party platform in 2024, with states like Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, and Montana voting to enshrine abortion rights within their state constitutions.

The coalition’s letter emphasized that “the massive political operations of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund promote all-trimester abortions and disseminate misinformation that endangers women and girls.”

Future Budgets and Reconciliation Efforts

In response to growing scrutiny, both the House and Senate have formulated separate budgets for fiscal year 2025, with expectations that they will finalize their reconciliation packages by April or May. The Trump administration aims to freeze $27.5 million in federal family planning grants to organizations, including Planned Parenthood, while conducting a review of their funding allocations for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.

The collective statement from the pro-life groups concludes, “Women and children deserve superior care. As the federal funding landscape is reevaluated, Congress should begin by cutting support for Big Abortion through the upcoming reconciliation bill.”

Among the prominent pro-life organizations that have endorsed this letter are the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, AAPLOG Action, ACLJ Action, Advancing American Freedom, and AFA Action.