Federal Judge Sides With Trump, Rules Against Planned Parenthood on Family Planning Funds

By Nancy Flory Published on July 18, 2018

A federal judge ruled Monday against Planned Parenthood’s efforts in a lawsuit to block President Trump’s proposed changes to family planning funds.

Protect Life Rule

President Trump announced back in May that he was changing the rules on Title X funding. The changes would direct taxpayer dollars away from abortion clinics. His new “Protect Life Rule” seeks to divert money away from any clinic that performs abortion.

The Title X Family Planning program provides funding for family planning. It also funds related health services for low-income or uninsured people. To qualify for Title X funding, a clinic must not perform or refer patients for abortions.

Planned Parenthood’s Lawsuit

Three Planned Parenthood groups along with another abortion clinic quickly filed suit. These lawsuits were combined, reported Reuters. The groups challenged the rules on the funding, which would favor clinics not providing abortions. Grants issued under the Title X program amount to around $260 million. Planned Parenthood currently serves 40 percent of all Title X patients.

The abortion mills wanted Trump to provide a notice and comment rule-making process. They argued that Trump’s changes were “arbitrary and capricious.”

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United States District Court Judge Trevor McFadden presided over the case. He ruled that “courts cannot review substantive objections to a non-final agency action, nor can they require formal rulemaking for a change in agency procedure.” Judge McFadden was appointed by Trump last year.

Even if Judge McFadden could rule on the merits of the case, he would agree with the President. He said that the changes line up with Title X’s commitment to support “voluntary family projects … offering a broad range of acceptable and effective family planning methods and services.”

Abortion is Not Healthcare

Dawn Laguens is the Executive Vice President of Planned Parenthood. “The Trump-Pence administration is trying to impose its ideology on people — no matter how many it hurts,” she said in a statement

For some, the changes are proof that President Trump has kept his promise on issues of life. Jeanne Mancini, President of March for Life, said in a statement that Title X money will now go to clinics that realize that abortion is not healthcare. “The pro-life grassroots will be pleased to see President Trump deliver on yet another pro-life promise.”

Mancini added that, contrary to Planned Parenthood’s statements, Americans who need health care will not be hurt by the changes.

“[N]ot one dime of Title X funds will be cut,” she said. “Low income women, who those funds are intended to help, will receive authentic health care at federally qualified health centers (FQHC).” Those centers outnumber abortion centers 20:1. “At FQHC, women benefit from better regulatory oversight, a wider range of services, and more options. We are encouraged by this step in the right direction and look forward to making continued progress in restoring a culture of life here in the United States.”

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