Federal Court Upholds Congressional Power To Defund Abortion Providers

U.S. District Judge Lance Walker upheld Congress's authority to defund major abortion providers by denying a preliminary injunction that would have blocked the implementation of the Trump administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill” provision stripping Medicaid funding from abortion businesses like Maine Family Planning. Judge Walker emphasized that courts must defer to the will of Congress and that abortion services are not a constitutional right following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The ruling contrasts with a similar case in Massachusetts where a judge initially allowed Planned Parenthood to continue receiving Medicaid funds, a decision now being challenged on appeal. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has filed amicus briefs supporting Congress’s constitutional authority and moral obligation to withhold taxpayer funds from abortion providers, framing the case as a critical defense of democratic principles against judicial overreach. Maine Family Planning, which could lose $1.9 million due to the cuts, was found to have knowingly continued abortion services despite the risk of defunding. This case highlights ongoing legal battles over federal abortion funding and underscores the judiciary’s role in respecting legislative decisions on such contested issues.