The budget that prevents Planned Parenthood from receiving federal taxpayer dollars will result in more Planned Parenthood facilities closing.
On Thursday afternoon, the House of Representatives passed a budget by a 218–214 margin that will head to President Trump for his signature. This budget will extend the tax cuts that President Trump signed into law during his first term. This budget reforms Medicaid and increases federal spending for both defense and border security. Importantly, the budget bill also includes language that prevents Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funds. This is a very important win for pro-lifers.
Context is important. Because of the federal Hyde amendment, Planned Parenthood does not receive any federal Medicaid funds for elective abortions. However, the organization does receive federal Medicaid funds for other services. Since money is fungible, these Medicaid funds indirectly subsidize the hundreds of thousands of abortions that Planned Parenthood performs annually. Overall, taxpayer funds from state governments and the federal government constitute over a third of Planned Parenthood’s total revenue
Today’s victory is further evidence of the legislative and political progress that pro-lifers are making. During the 1990s and 2000s, defunding Planned Parenthood was seen as a niche pro-life issue. It received precious little attention from Republican elected officials. However, the undercover videos produced by Lila Rose of Live Action that exposed Planned Parenthood’s misconduct gave political efforts to defund Planned Parenthood some much-needed momentum.
In late 2015, both the House and the Senate voted to defund Planned Parenthood. However, that legislation was vetoed by President Obama. In 2017, with Donald Trump in the White House, Republicans came closer. Legislation defunding Planned Parenthood passed the House. However, in the Senate the parliamentarian ruled that the defunding provisions violated the Byrd rule, and the effort was dropped. However, this year with Republicans controlling the presidency, the House, and the Senate, the defunding efforts succeeded.
Some pro-lifers were disappointed that Planned Parenthood was defunded for only a single year. However, this could still have positive long-term policy implications. Planned Parenthood knows that it can no longer rely on federal Medicaid dollars as a revenue stream. As a result, it is unlikely to open additional facilities and is going to continue the process of closing down existing clinics.
Indeed, this year Planned Parenthood officials announced that they are selling the property of their Manhattan clinic. They announced multiple facility closures in South Dakota and Iowa. Just this week, they also announced the closure of the facility in Cleveland. Overall, during the past 15 years the number of Planned Parenthood facilities has dropped from approximately 750 to under 600. This budget will result in the closure of more Planned Parenthood facilities.
Since the Hyde amendment was first passed in 1976, defunding abortion has proven to be shrewd strategy for pro-lifers. The budget that prevents Planned Parenthood from receiving federal taxpayer dollars will result in more Planned Parenthood facilities closing. Fewer people will work in the abortion industry and more women will get health care from places that affirm life. Overall, this is indeed a big beautiful win for pro-lifers.