A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore funding to Planned Parenthood and its affiliates, saying patients could face harm without access to services. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued the ruling Monday, July 28, expanding on a previous order from the week of July 20. That earlier injunction applied only to 10 Planned Parenthood clinics in Massachusetts, requiring Medicaid funding to be reinstated.
“We strongly disagree with the court’s decision. States should not be forced to fund organizations that have chosen political advocacy over patient care,” a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services told The Hill.
Judge blocks effort to defund Planned Parenthood
Monday’s decision broadens the scope, directing the administration to restore funding across the board. In her ruling, Judge Talwani said the loss of funding could lead to reduced access to care, particularly for low-income patients who rely on Medicaid.
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“In particular, restricting Members’ ability to provide healthcare services threatens an increase in unintended pregnancies and attendant complications because of reduced access to effective contraceptives, and an increase in undiagnosed and untreated STIs,” she wrote.
“At a time when reproductive health care access is under constant attack, this decision is a powerful reminder that patients, not politics, should guide health care,” said Dominique Lee, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. “In Massachusetts and beyond, we will keep fighting to ensure everyone can turn to the provider they trust, no matter their insurance or ZIP code.”
Planned Parenthood challenges 2025 reconciliation law
The Planned Parenthood Federation of America and affiliates in Massachusetts and Utah sued the Trump administration. They challenged a section of the 2025 Reconciliation Act, also known as the One Big, Beautiful Bill, that bars certain organizations from receiving Medicaid reimbursements for one year.
The law, passed by Congress in July, defines “prohibited entities” as those connected to abortion services or advocacy. Planned Parenthood argued that the law amounts to punishment for their public stance and restricts funding to clinics that do not even perform abortions.
It’s important to note that taxpayer money cannot be used to fund an abortion. This restriction has been in place since 1977 under the Hyde Amendment, a federal policy that prohibits the use of Medicaid funds for abortion services except in cases of rape, incest or life endangerment.
Talwani wrote that the plaintiffs showed a strong likelihood of success on claims that the law violates the First Amendment, equal protection and the constitutional ban on bills of attainder, laws targeting specific groups for punishment.
In her ruling, Talwani emphasized that the injunction does not force the federal government to pay for abortion services. It simply blocks enforcement of a rule that, she said, targets Planned Parenthood for its viewpoints and affiliations, not its conduct.
The court found that many Planned Parenthood affiliates offer essential health care services like cancer screenings, STI testing, contraception and physical exams, and rely on Medicaid for a significant share of their funding. For some, Medicaid reimbursements make up more than 75% of their revenue.
