Trump Administration Freezes $20 Million in Funding for Planned Parenthood

The Trump administration has announced that it will be freezing approximately $20 million in funding for Planned Parenthood. This decision comes as the administration reviews whether recipients of federal grants are in violation of President Trump's executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives by federal contractors.

The cuts reportedly include around $20 million for Planned Parenthood facilities in about 12 states. However, the Trump administration says the funding pause on the abortion giant is not final. A White House official told The Daily Signal that no final decision has been made.

Planned Parenthood was responsible for the abortions of around 400,000 babies in 2023. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is reviewing all Title X grant recipients to make sure they comply with federal law and President Trump's executive orders.

Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office mandating that all federal agencies prohibit grant recipients from promoting or participating in DEI efforts. HHS is concerned about the compliance of several awardees impacting $27.5 million in continuation awards. HHS expects all recipients of federal funding to comply with federal law.

During Trump's first term, his HHS department prohibited Title X grantees from providing or referring patients for abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, or medical emergency. This caused Planned Parenthood to withdraw from the program.

The Biden administration reversed the rule in 2021, and Title X funding to Planned Parenthood resumed. Now that Trump is back in the Oval Office, his administration's review of Title X grant recipients is part of an effort to safeguard "the American taxpayer's hard-earned dollars by ending the senseless taxpayer funding of DEI programs and initiatives, including grants to institutions in blatant violation of federal law," White House spokesman Kush Desai told The Daily Signal.

"The administration supports the proper stewardship and prioritization of taxpayer dollars and will work to ensure all federal grantees are compliant with federal laws prohibiting discrimination," Desai said in an email.