More than 20 states sue Trump admin over medicaid cuts targeting planned parenthood

UPDATED: Jul 30, 2025 06:56 IST

More than 20 states, mostly led by Democrats, filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging the Trump administration’s recent move to cut Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood and similar health providers. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, argues that the cuts are both vague and unconstitutional.

The dispute centres on a provision in a new package of tax breaks and spending cuts signed by former President Donald Trump earlier this month. One section eliminates Medicaid reimbursements for a year for major providers of family planning services, specifically those receiving more than $800,000 in Medicaid funding in 2023. While aimed at Planned Parenthood, the rule also affects other providers, including Maine Family Planning.

California, New York, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., and other plaintiffs argue that the measure unlawfully targets Planned Parenthood for its advocacy of abortion rights, violating the First Amendment’s free speech protections. They also claim the rule threatens access to essential health care for millions of low-income Americans who depend on these clinics for services like cancer screenings, birth control, and STI treatment.

“This attack isn’t just about abortion,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “It’s about denying vulnerable communities access to care they rely on every day.”

The Department of Health and Human Services, named in the suit, defended the measure. “States should not be forced to fund organizations that have chosen political advocacy over patient care,” said spokesperson Andrew G. Nixon.

Planned Parenthood and Maine Family Planning have filed separate legal challenges. Planned Parenthood says the law doesn’t name it directly but clearly targets its nearly 600 clinics in 48 states. The organization warns that about a third of its clinics could close, affecting more than a million patients.

A federal judge recently ruled that Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood must continue nationwide, for now. However, Maine Family Planning says it can only continue serving Medicaid patients without reimbursement through October due to limited reserves. About half of its non-abortion patients rely on Medicaid.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong warned of higher state costs if the cuts proceed. “Either we comply and violate Planned Parenthood’s constitutional rights, or we spend millions more to cover the gap,” he said.

Federal law already restricts using taxpayer money for most abortions, but critics argue these cuts use a backdoor approach to undermine access to broader reproductive health care.

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With inputs from Associated Press