Republican Senators Demand COVID Funding Details for Planned Parenthood

Senators Joni Ernst and Rand Paul are demanding detailed information from the Small Business Administration (SBA) about COVID-19 relief funds received by Planned Parenthood, specifically from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). They allege that taxpayer dollars were improperly allocated to the organization for abortion-related services, despite the SBA determining in May 2020 that affiliates of Planned Parenthood were ineligible for such funds. Both senators criticize the Biden administration for allegedly obstructing their investigation into the matter, claiming it has hidden information regarding these loans. Ernst emphasized that the PPP was intended to support struggling businesses, not organizations that fund abortions. The senators are calling for transparency and accountability in the distribution of pandemic relief funds, particularly regarding the more than $80 million that Planned Parenthood affiliates reportedly applied for. Their efforts follow past notifications from the SBA under the Trump administration that denied these loans based on federal law prohibiting the funding of abortions.