Each day, Planned Parenthood receives around $2 million in taxpayer money through federal funding, totaling nearly $700 million a year. Annually the abortion giant is responsible for nearly 400,000 abortions. Defunding Planned Parenthood and other taxpayer funded abortionists is paramount in the fight for life. Federal dollars should not go to an industry that is dedicated to the killing of innocent babies. Without receiving hundreds of millions in government support, these abortion giants will struggle to stay afloat. Through the budget reconciliation process we have a unique chance to finally defund Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood’s record speaks for itself. Built upon a lasting foundation of eugenics and a systematic targeting of minorities, the organization profits off the victimization of children and their parents. As Life Issues Institute uncovered, 79% of Planned Parenthood’s surgical abortion facilities were located within walking distance of a minority neighborhood. Undercover investigations and insider testimony have shown Planned Parenthood’s involvement in enabling and covering up child sex trafficking. Workers have even coached sex traffickers on how to get secret abortions and make their operation look “as legit as possible.” Uncovered sworn testimony of Planned Parenthood officials document the selling of aborted baby body parts. Through it all, they have continued to rake in hundreds of millions in taxpayer funding each year.
Despite the lucrative nature of abortion, Planned Parenthood is struggling under immense financial pressure. Though Planned Parenthood received an influx of donations totaling $498 million following the reversal of Roe v. Wade, they are low on funds. This is in part due to their massive spending to support radical pro-abortion politicians and legislation around the country.
The New York Times, a longtime lockstep supporter of abortion, published an in-depth article titled “Botched Care and Tired Staff: Planned Parenthood in Crisis” highlighting the many dirty secrets of the organization. The author reviewed legal filings, facility documents, and interviews with more than fifty past or present consultants, medical staff members, and executives. What she found was appalling.
The article states, “in Omaha last year, sewage from a backed-up toilet seeped into the abortion recovery room for two days, according to interviews with staff members and photographs and text messages shared with The Times. Employees shoved exam table pads under the bathroom door to block the leak. Patients vomited from the stench.”
Thankfully, we have a unique opportunity before us to finally cut federal funding from Planned Parenthood. Ordinary legislative attempts will fail without a pro-life super majority in the Senate due to the filibuster rule. However, ordinary legislative efforts are not the only path to victory. Congress can defund Planned Parenthood through a process known as budget reconciliation. This special legislative process allows certain budget related bills to pass the Senate with only a simple majority. Because Planned Parenthood receives much of its federal funding through Medicaid and other health programs, it is a prime target for the reconciliation process. While this approach has been attempted in the past, and nearly succeeded, this year we enjoy a different congressional landscape. With pro-life majorities in both chambers of Congress and an advocate of life in the White House, now is the time to act.
Life Issues Institute was proud to help spearhead this effort. We joined hundreds of pro-life activists representing pro-life organizations from around the country as we met with members of Congress and their staff. I met with staff from the offices of Senator Mike Lee, Senator John Cornyn, Congressman Brandon Gill, and Congressman Brian Babin. During our time on Capitol Hill, every office we visited received a letter signed by over 150 pro-life leaders from across the country representing all 50 states. The message was clear: Americans should not be forced to fund abortion, and Congress must act now.
As Planned Parenthood struggles under the weight of their financial strain, federal funding becomes more essential to their operation. While taxpayer dollars are prohibited from directly paying for abortions, thanks to the Hyde Amendment, these funds are fungible and can be used to offset operation costs. Without receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funding, the abortion giant will be forced to stand on its own two feet.
Many already struggling abortion facilities would face great difficulty staying in business. Planned Parenthood’s own website has multiple propaganda filled webpages which show the organizations deep concerns about losing their funding. Not only would the organization be forced to ration their funding in an effort to stay in business, but they would also lose credibility and political power.
By continuing to grant them federal funding, Congress is lending Planned Parenthood credibility. Despite the continued scandals, lies, and abuse that come from their facilities they continue to receive taxpayer dollars. This money reinforces the false claim that they are a “legitimate healthcare provider” in the eyes of the public. By removing their funding, Congress can also remove their credibility.
Planned Parenthood is not only the largest abortion business in the country, but they are also among the most influential in pro-abortion lobbying. In the 2024 election cycle Planned Parenthood committed $40 million to bolstering pro-abortion candidates. Without federal funding their ability to spend tens of millions toward political activism will be greatly diminished.
Planned Parenthood claims that if they are forced to close their doors, communities will go without needed medical care. That is false. Charlotte Lozier Institute documents that “There are an estimated 15 community-based health clinics offering women’s health care for every Planned Parenthood facility in the United States.” That number includes an estimated 5,500 Federally Qualified Health Centers creating a network of support for women in need. Unlike Planned Parenthood, these facilities provide genuine healthcare to women and do not pressure them to abort their children.
Defunding Planned Parenthood would be a tremendous win for life. No American should be forced to fund the nation’s largest abortion business. A Harvard CAPS/Harris poll found that 72% of Americans support cutting wasteful government spending. Defunding Planned Parenthood is an excellent place to start.
Leave a Reply