Republicans Consider Measures to Cut Federal Funding for Planned Parenthood in New Legislation

House Republicans Explore Funding Cuts to Planned Parenthood

EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans are evaluating potential measures aimed at ending federal funding for organizations like Planned Parenthood. This move is part of their strategy to achieve significant cost savings in a multitrillion-dollar bill that advances President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Sources close to the House Energy and Commerce Committee informed Fox News Digital that lawmakers are looking to cut at least $1.5 trillion in spending to balance Trump’s tax priorities.

Focus on “Big Abortion” by House Leadership

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, indicated earlier this week that the party would target the issue of “big abortion” during the budget reconciliation process. Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie from Kentucky confirmed this discussion when he stated, “We are working on a lot of different options, but that’s been discussed.” Guthrie acknowledged that defunding Planned Parenthood has been part of the ongoing negotiations.

Committee’s Budget Targets and Strategic Plans

The House Energy and Commerce Committee is tasked with identifying $880 billion in spending cuts within its jurisdiction. This task becomes complex as intra-party disagreements persist regarding potential reductions to Medicaid.

Republicans are poised to utilize the reconciliation process to pass extensive legislation that includes Trump’s priorities concerning border security, immigration, taxation, defense, energy policy, and the debt ceiling. By lowering the Senate’s requirement for passage from 60 votes to 51, they aim to enact sweeping legislation while sidelining the Democratic opposition.

Progress on Legislative Framework

The initial hurdle of establishing a framework with instructions for various committees to find spending cuts or propose minimal increases was cleared earlier this year. The energy and commerce committee covers a broad range of policies, including health, energy, and telecommunications.

Criticism from Democratic Opponents

Democratic lawmakers and critics argue that the reconciliation plans could lead to harmful cuts to critical programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security while attempting to fund Trump’s agenda. Despite these concerns, Republicans maintain they will not reduce Medicare, and Trump is advocating for cuts on taxes concerning retirees’ Social Security benefits.

The Controversial Topic of Medicaid Cuts

The debate over how deeply to cut Medicaid has become a contentious issue between fiscal conservatives and Republican lawmakers representing states with larger populations of low-income individuals.

While direct defunding of Planned Parenthood is not compliant with reconciliation rules, Republicans can target similar organizations that provide abortions and receive federal Medicaid dollars. This strategy could provide Republicans with additional flexibility, though it may also present challenges for vulnerable members of Congress.

One anonymous House Republican expressed confusion about the defunding efforts, noting, “I don’t even know what they’re defunding because you already can’t use federal funds for abortion.” They referenced the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federally funded abortions.

The Role of Medicaid Funding for Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood receives Medicaid funding for the broad array of health services it provides, excluding abortion. Skeptics argue that these federal funds support the overall operation of the abortion services offered by the organization.

During an anti-abortion rally in late March, Representative Mary Miller from Illinois asserted, “Congress holds the power of the purse, and President Trump has begun the defunding of Planned Parenthood.” She emphasized her commitment to including defunding measures in the reconciliation bill, saying, “I will do anything possible to make that happen.”

Uncertainty Surrounding Legislative Outcomes

Currently, no final decisions have been made regarding the inclusion of such provisions in the final legislation. However, the Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to advance its section of the proposed bill in the coming week, which will likely clarify its plans within a matter of days.

Previously, the discussions regarding the defunding of Planned Parenthood had not extended to the committee level, although it has been a longstanding goal for advocacy groups like Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

Republican Leadership Signals Legislative Direction

Speaker Johnson hinted at the direction Republicans are taking during a recent speech at an event organized by an interest group advocating against abortion. He stated that the reconciliation bill would redirect funds from “big abortion” to federally qualified health centers.

Next Steps in the Legislative Process

Upon request for comments, a spokesperson for the House Energy and Commerce Committee stated, “Chairman Guthrie, along with other Energy and Commerce Republicans, have been and are continuing to work with members across the Republican Conference to fulfill President Trump’s agenda through the reconciliation process.”

The spokesperson added, “The committee is not yet ready to comment on any policy-specific items that may or may not be included in the final bill text. Energy and Commerce is examining a full menu of options across the committee’s broad jurisdiction, including energy, environment, health, telecommunications, and more.”