Appeals Court Says Trump Administration Can Defund Abortion Providers
BOSTON — The First Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with the Trump Administration in allowing the defunding of abortion providers to continue while lawsuits are ongoing.
Multiple states and abortion providers filed lawsuits in the wake of Congress’ “Big Beautiful Bill,” which President Trump signed July 4. Part of that bill was the removal of Medicaid funding from abortion providers for one year.
The plaintiffs, including 21 states, a network of clinics in Maine and abortion giant Planned Parenthood, had appealed a similar decision in September.
The First Circuit ruled the provisions of the July funding bill are within Congress’ purview and not a “punishment” as plaintiffs contend.
“When Congress employs its constitutional power to tax and spend for the ‘general Welfare of the United States’ …, it has ‘broad discretion’ to place ‘limits on the use of such funds to ensure they are used in the manner [it] intends,’” the court’s decision reads.
“We are grateful to see this ruling and are thankful that the effort to finally defund Planned Parenthood, which the ERLC worked so hard on this spring and summer alongside other pro-life groups, is one step closer to being finalized,” said Gary Hollingsworth, interim president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. “Furthermore, it is good to see the courts respect the legislative work of Congress, as it should.”
Meanwhile, the Maine lawsuit, brought by a group called Maine Family Planning, was dismissed at the request of the plaintiffs. The clinics shut down their primary care operations in October due to the lack of funding, The Associated Press reported.
Maine Family Planning CEO George Hill said Wednesday the Trump Administration has “dismantled the nation’s health care system” but pledged to remain “focused on delivering high quality care to our patients.”
At least eight states have begun using state funds to support Planned Parenthood in the wake of the funding cuts.
“It is no surprise that Planned Parenthood would continue to do everything it can to maintain taxpayer funding for its nefarious abortion agenda,” Hollingsworth said. “But, as Southern Baptists have contended for years, taxpayers should not have to violate their consciences by helping fund clinics to promote and perform abortions, taking the life of innocent children.
“For that reason, it is extremely disappointing to see states allocate dollars from their own taxpayers to continue to fund these clinics. If they are serious about serving women, there are better options – clinics that truly want what is best for moms, dads and their babies.
“That’s what pro-life pregnancy resources centers across the country do every day and why the ERLC has worked hard to support their efforts through our Psalm 139 Project and our advocacy for bills like the Let Pregnancy Centers Serve Act.
“We join Southern Baptists in praying for the success of these efforts as we work together to save as many lives as possible on the road to ending abortion.”
Health and Human Services press secretary Emily Hilliard said Wednesday the department remains “committed to protecting the integrity of Medicaid programs to ensure full compliance with the law.”
This article has been republished with permission from Baptist Press.
Laura Erlanson is managing editor of Baptist Press.