Federal Judge Blocks Medicaid Defunding Planned Parenthood Pending Appeals

A federal judge blocked a key provision of President Donald Trump's “One Big Beautiful Bill” that sought to defund Planned Parenthood by cutting off Medicaid funding to abortion providers, ruling the provision likely unconstitutional on grounds of it being a bill of attainder and violating equal protection rights. The law aimed to prohibit clinics that provide abortions from receiving federal Medicaid funds, even for non-abortion services, but the judge's order emphasized that this restriction would increase unintended pregnancies and untreated STIs. The Trump administration is appealing the ruling, insisting that states should not be forced to subsidize abortion providers. Meanwhile, anti-abortion groups remain confident that the provision could be reinstated by the Supreme Court and see the issue playing a significant role in the 2026 midterm elections as Republicans seek to maintain control of the House. Additionally, a coalition of state attorneys general is suing the administration over what they describe as a coordinated federal campaign to defund Planned Parenthood and restrict gender-affirming care for transgender youth, arguing the law violates constitutional protections and harms public health. The ongoing legal battles highlight the contentious political and legal landscape surrounding reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare under Trump’s administration.