SAN FRANCISCO — The Planned Parenthood Federation of America
announced Aug. 19 it is withdrawing from the federal Title X program over the
Trump administration's "Protect Life Rule" barring these funds from
being used for promoting or providing abortion as family planning.
Planned Parenthood called the rule a "gag order" on its
operations that needed to be lifted. It said Aug. 14 it would withdraw from the
program if it did not get "emergency judicial relief" in the form of
an injunction from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to keep the new policy
from taking effect. The San Francisco-based court did not do that.
The administration "is trying to force us to keep
information from our patients. The gag rule is unethical, dangerous, and we
will not subject our patients to it," Planned Parenthood said in its Aug.
19 statement. It will no longer receive $60 million of the $286 million
allocated annually through Title X.
Pro-life groups' reaction to the Planned Parenthood decision was
swift.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national Susan B. Anthony
List pro-life organization said: "Today, Planned Parenthood showed its
true colors by prioritizing abortion over family planning, refusing to comply
with the Protect Life Rule and dropping out of the Title X program."
President Donald Trump's policy "is a huge victory for the
majority of taxpayers who reject taxpayer funding of abortion," she said.
"The Protect Life Rule does not reduce family planning funding by a single
dollar, it simply directs taxpayer funding to family planning providers who
stay out of the abortion business."
March for Life echoed Dannenfelser's statement, saying:
"Planned Parenthood, our nation's largest abortion provider, today made a
choice not to separate its abortion operation from Title X services, and in
doing so declined Title X funding."
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services'
Office of Population Affairs, the Trump administration's "Protect Life
Rule" is based on the most accurate interpretation of the Family Planning
Services and Population Research Act of 1970, which enacted Title X. Section
1008 of this act states that "none of the funds appropriated under this
title shall be used in programs where abortion is a method of family
planning."
HHS said the rule requires "clear financial and physical
separation between Title X funded projects and programs or facilities where
abortion is a method of family planning. This separation will ensure adherence
to statutory restrictions, and provide needed clarity for the public and for
Title X clinics about permissible and impermissible activities for Title X
projects."
After Trump's May 2 announcement on the new Title X rule — which
included an expanded "conscience rule" to protect health care workers
who oppose abortion and sterilization — 20 U.S. states, the District of
Columbia and several advocates of legal abortion, including Planned Parenthood,
filed suit. They sought an emergency stay on the rule.
On July 11, the 9th Circuit in a 7-4 decision said that even as
court cases challenging it proceed, the rule could take effect. The ruling let
stand the court's June 20 decision lifting injunctions blocking enforcement of
the rule.
On July 15, HHS announced it would begin implementing the Trump
administration's rule.
"Women have the most to gain from this news" about
Planned Parenthood is withdrawing from Title X, said Dannenfelser.
"With community health alternatives vastly outnumbering
Planned Parenthood facilities nationwide, on average, these health centers
would see an additional two clients per week. This is a huge win for women's
health," she added.