Federal judge halts Planned Parenthood cuts as Republicans protest

A federal judge’s decision to block the Trump Administration from stripping federal funding from Planned Parenthood has sparked outrage among Republicans. Judge Indira Talwani granted Planned Parenthood a temporary restraining order, leading critics to accuse her of overstepping her judicial authority.

Tom Jipping, a legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, condemned the judge’s move as an overreach of power. He argued that Congress has the constitutional authority to make spending decisions and accused the judge of trying to force Congress to change its decisions.

Talwani, appointed by former President Barack Obama, issued the temporary order after Planned Parenthood sued the government over the provision in the One Big Beautiful Act that would strip Medicaid funding from the organization. Planned Parenthood argued that this could lead to the closure of hundreds of facilities and deprive millions of customers of essential non-abortion-related services.

The bill was narrowly passed by Congress with no Democratic support and signed into law by President Trump on July 4. Talwani’s swift decision to grant the temporary restraining order raised eyebrows, with some suggesting that it was a hasty move that undermined the legislative process.

Senator Mike Lee, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticized the judge’s order and hinted at the possibility of impeachment proceedings against her. He argued that the judge’s decision represented a blatant usurpation of legislative power.

Former federal prosecutor Bill Shipley called for the case to be reassigned to the First Circuit Court of Appeals, suggesting that district judges need to be held accountable for exceeding their authority for partisan reasons.

The Department of Justice could challenge the order, with DOJ chief of staff Chad Mizelle calling it a “lawless overreach.” He urged the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter.

Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit claimed that the budget bill unconstitutionally targeted the organization because it performs abortions. The organization argued that depriving it of Medicaid reimbursements would have severe public health consequences, leading to undetected cancer and sexually transmitted infections, as well as more unplanned pregnancies.

Democrats celebrated Talwani’s order, with House Minority Whip Katherine Clark praising the decision as “good news” for those who rely on Planned Parenthood for healthcare. However, she acknowledged that the fight was far from over.

The legal battle over Planned Parenthood’s federal funding is set to continue, with a hearing scheduled for July 21 to consider arguments from both sides. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the future of reproductive healthcare in the United States.