ACLJ’s Multipronged Fight To Defund Abortion Giant Planned Parenthood Gains Steam

Momentum has decidedly shifted in the effort to defund tax dollars from the killing of unborn babies. In accordance with his intent with the formation of DOGE, President Trump has indicated that he is prepared to sign an Executive order to defund Planned Parenthood and yank tens of millions in taxpayer funds from the abortion industry. This would follow up on his previous move of reinstating the end of federal funding of abortion overseas (otherwise known as the Mexico City Policy), which has already removed more than $100 million from Planned Parenthood’s clutches internationally.

Accordingly, in tandem with these efforts, the ACLJ has ramped up its efforts to defund the abortion industry of taxpayer funding as well. Our multi-case effort attacks this issue from different angles, but the end goal is the same – to eradicate the ability of the abortion industry to tap into our tax dollars.

Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic

In February, we filed a crucial amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, potentially our most significant abortion case since we assisted in overturning Roe.

As we wrote previously, this case was filed after South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued an Executive order instructing the South Carolina Department of Health & Human Services to declare abortion clinics unqualified to operate as medical providers under the Medicaid Act. This designation is essential for Planned Parenthood to receive taxpayer funding, which it uses to support its entire operations, including abortion services.

Oral arguments are set for Tuesday, with the Court expected to issue a decision by June. This could be a landmark victory in the battle to end taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood.

New York v. Trump

The ACLJ recently filed an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to take a bold stand against a coordinated legal assault on presidential authority and the protection of innocent human life. Blue states, spearheaded by New York, have filed a groundless lawsuit challenging President Trump’s effort to enforce the Hyde Amendment and ensure the responsible use of taxpayer funds.

In January 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14182, “Enforcing the Hyde Amendment,” to put a stop to the previous Administration’s intentional and systematic violation of this vital pro-life safeguard. For years, the Biden Administration openly bypassed the Hyde Amendment, embedding forced taxpayer funding for elective abortions across numerous federal programs.

The Left’s legal strategy is legal cowardice that is misleading and desperate. It targets a rescinded OMB memo instead of directly challenging President Trump’s valid Executive orders. The memo simply instructed federal agencies to pause certain funding programs for review to ensure compliance with the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding for abortions. The pause applied only to programs affected by the Executive orders and within legal limits. The lawsuit is improper because the memo has been rescinded, rendering the case moot. Furthermore, the memo wasn’t a final agency action, as it only directed a review, and the district court’s ruling overreached by blocking Executive orders that were never challenged.

Coalition of Conservative Groups

This week, our sister organization, ACLJ Action, joined a coalition of 150 conservative groups, with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America leading the charge, in signing an important letterurging Congress to cut funding for abortion through budget reconciliation.

The letter states: “In November, the American people gave a mandate – it is time for change in Washington.” It’s time to “cut government waste,” including from the abortion industry and especially from abortion giant Planned Parenthood.

From the letter:

Planned Parenthood reports raking in a total of $699.3 million, or almost $2 million per day, from American taxpayers in 2023 alone. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood’s most recent annual report boasted that they performed nearly 393,000 abortions – a 40% market share of the abortion industry in the U.S.

Women and children deserve better care. In an era of reexamining federal funding, Congress should start by cutting funding for Big Abortion in the upcoming reconciliation bill.

Our efforts to finally end the flow of public funding for abortion and to devastate Planned Parenthood need your support. The billions they have received to subsidize the murder of babies on the taxpayers’ dime must end. Add your name to Defund and Defeat Planned Parenthood at the Supreme Court.