Defund ‘Big Abortion’ industry that thrived under Biden, pro-life groups urge Congress
Over 150 state and national pro-life coalitions have come together to urge Congress to cut Medicaid funding to “Big Abortion,” with a focus on Planned Parenthood, through budget reconciliation. Budget reconciliation is a special legislative process used in Congress to make changes to spending, revenue, and the federal debt limit.
The coalition commended the Trump administration’s efforts to combat former President Joe Biden’s “abortion agenda” and eliminate government waste through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). However, they believe that a “Republican trifecta presents the opportunity to bolster these efforts even further.”
After President Donald Trump’s reelection and his subsequent pardoning of pro-life individuals charged under the Biden administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ), pro-life conservatives are now shifting their focus towards cutting off federal funding to abortion providers. The coalition highlighted previous reconciliation bills in 2015 and 2017 that included provisions to halt funding to Big Abortion.
The letter to Congress emphasized the urgency of cutting funding to an industry that endangers women and unborn children while promoting woke policies and candidates. Planned Parenthood and similar organizations were identified for cost-saving measures by Elon Musk in a Wall Street Journal article last November.
While the Hyde Amendment sets federal limits on abortion funding, individual states have the authority to expand or restrict Medicaid coverage beyond these exceptions. Some states choose to use state funds to provide Medicaid coverage for abortion services beyond what is allowed under the Hyde Amendment.
Several lawmakers in both the House and Senate have introduced bills to defund Planned Parenthood. The “Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2025” proposed by Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.) calls for a one-year moratorium on federal funding to Planned Parenthood and its affiliates. Additionally, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the End Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Providers Act, seeking to defund Planned Parenthood nationwide.
In 2024, Planned Parenthood spent nearly $70 million to support pro-abortion candidates and ballot measures across the country through its political action arm. The coalition criticized the organization for pushing all-trimester abortions and spreading fearmongering lies that endanger women and girls.
Both the House and Senate have adopted separate budgets for FY 2025, with reconciliation packages expected to pass by April or May. The Trump administration also plans to freeze $27.5 million in federal family-planning grants to organizations like Planned Parenthood while reviewing their use of funds for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
The coalition, which includes major pro-life organizations such as Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and ACLJ Action, is calling on Congress to prioritize cutting funding for Big Abortion in the upcoming reconciliation bill. They believe that women and children deserve better care and that federal funding should not support organizations that promote abortion.
