Planned Parenthood has long denied using federal funds to pay for abortion procedures, but House Republicans have their doubts.
The House Oversight Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency launched an investigation into Planned Parenthood’s use of federal funding, noting that the number of abortions provided by the organization has increased while other healthcare services declined – and federal funding continues to rise.
Planned Parenthood has also become a major player in the gender-affirming care business, but a Live Action investigation last month found affiliates in two states indicating that patients as young as 16 may obtain same-day hormones via telehealth without showing proof of mental-health therapy.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the panel’s chairwoman, said it was “troubling that Planned Parenthood is eagerly providing gender affirming care to minors with minimal medical supervision, possibly with the backing of federal funds.”
“As a recipient of nearly $800 million in federal funds in fiscal year 2023 and the second largest provider of gender hormone therapies in the United States, the subcommittee is concerned that Planned Parenthood may be commingling federal funds and using them for unpermitted purposes,” said Ms. Greene in the Friday letter to Planned Parenthood President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson.
The investigation comes with the Trump administration seeking to cut off Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood in the budget reconciliation package, known as the “big, beautiful bill,” which has already passed the House.
Planned Parenthood has fought back with the “I’m for Planned Parenthood” campaign, enlisting support from more than 250 high-profile figures, including celebrities Harry Styles, Charlize Theron, Megan Thee Stallion, and Kerry Washington, as well as Ella Emhoff, daughter of former First Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Planned Parenthood’s federal funding sources include Title X family-planning grants, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, but the organization has long denied spending those federal dollars on abortion except as allowed under the Hyde Amendment.
The Hyde Amendment prohibits federal funds from being used to provide abortions with exceptions for rape, incest and when the mother’s life is in danger.
The congressional interest in Planned Parenthood’s financial data follows the release last month of its 2023-24 annual report, which covers services provided in Fiscal Year 2022-23.
The report showed that the number of abortions rose to a record 402,230, an increase of 2% from the previous year and 23% over the last 10 years, while 96.9% of women seeking healthcare related to their pregnancies ended up undergoing abortions.
Prenatal services offered since 2013 have decreased by 63%, while contraceptive services are down 36%, according to a May 12 analysis from the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute.
“Despite receiving 39% of its annual revenue from federal funds intended for essential health services, such as cancer screenings and wellness exams, Planned Parenthood is increasingly using its resources to offer abortions to its patients,” said Ms. Greene in the letter.
The letter also cited emails obtained by the pro-life Center for Medical Progress showing that the University of California San Diego was in negotiations with a local Planned Parenthood affiliate in 2018 to obtain 2,500 donated post-abortive fetuses for research purposes.
The university’s “research plan” sought to “collect tissue from fetuses ranging from 4 to 23 weeks gestational age from subjects undergoing elective surgical pregnancy termination at Planned Parenthood in San Diego,” according to the emails released last year.
At issue is whether Planned Parenthood accepted “valuable consideration” for the transfer, which is illegal under federal law. The organization said it would no longer seek reimbursements for providing fetal tissue for research after the center’s explosive 2015 report on the issue.
The Washington Times has reached out to Planned Parenthood for comment.
The subcommittee gave Planned Parenthood until June 27 to produce documents, including financial statements, contracts to provide abortive fetal tissue to research institutions and procedures for complying with state law on age restrictions for gender-affirming care.
The subcommittee also instructed Planned Parenthood to prepare for a “staff-level briefing” no later than June 20 on cumulative funding from federal sources; cumulative and annual revenue from gender-affirming care, and the amount of funding received for aborted fetal tissue since January 2020.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.