Trump Administration Freezes $27.5 Million in Planned Parenthood Funds

The Trump administration is withholding federal funding from Planned Parenthood under the Title X program, affecting services like birth control and cancer screenings for low-income individuals. This decision, affecting nine affiliates, stems from possible violations of executive orders and civil rights laws, including a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Planned Parenthood argues that the funding cut will lead to undetected cancers and reduced access to birth control, worsening the STI crisis. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is reviewing $27.5 million in grants to ensure compliance with the new policies. Critics, including Alexis McGill Johnson of Planned Parenthood, describe the move as politically motivated and harmful to public health. The organization has 10 days to respond to the funding freeze notice, which predominantly impacts clinics in Republican-controlled states.