Planned Parenthood appears to scrub Instagram as fears of DOGE cuts loom

Planned Parenthood made headlines on Thursday when all of its Instagram posts mysteriously disappeared shortly after Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary RFK Jr.’s swearing in. The organization posted a cryptic image of a pair of eyes on a black background, sparking speculation among followers. The following day, an animated gif with the words “I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me” was shared on their Instagram story, followed by three posts about condom use.

The sudden deletion of posts led to calls from pro-life advocates to defund Planned Parenthood. Advancing American Freedom, a conservative watchdog group founded by former President Mike Pence, urged the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut federal spending on the organization. Tim Chapman, the president of the group, wrote a letter to Elon Musk, calling for the defunding of Planned Parenthood.

According to a report by the Government Accountability Office, Planned Parenthood health centers received significant funding from HHS grants and public health programs between 2019 and 2021. As the debate over funding intensified, pro-life and pro-choice demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court to voice their opinions on the matter.

RFK Jr., during his confirmation hearing, expressed his belief that “every abortion is a tragedy” and voiced support for President Trump’s stance on allowing states to handle the issue. Despite previously supporting abortion rights, Kennedy pledged to implement Trump’s policies while leading HHS.

With RFK Jr. at the helm of HHS and Elon Musk overseeing DOGE, pro-choice advocates fear that Planned Parenthood may face funding cuts. The organization has warned that defunding could jeopardize patients’ access to sexual and reproductive care, citing the millions of services they provide each year.

In 2022, Planned Parenthood treated 2.05 million patients, offering a range of services including STI tests and breast exams. However, the organization did not disclose the number of abortions performed during that time. Despite requests for comment, Planned Parenthood did not respond to inquiries from Fox News.

As the debate over Planned Parenthood’s funding continues, the organization remains a focal point for both pro-life and pro-choice advocates. The future of reproductive healthcare in the United States hangs in the balance as policymakers and activists clash over the organization’s role in providing essential services to millions of Americans.

Rachel Wolf, a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business, contributed to this report.