A federal judge in the United States has halted President Donald Trump’s effort to stop Medicaid funds from flowing to Planned Parenthood in 22 states, according to Tuesday’s district court ruling.
The provision, which was backed by Republicans, aimed to prevent taxpayer money from indirectly supporting abortion providers. However, supporters noted that while the Hyde Amendment already prohibits direct funding for abortions through Medicaid, reimbursements for other services help sustain Planned Parenthood’s nationwide abortion infrastructure.
This legal action continues a decades-long clash over funding restrictions related to Planned Parenthood. Since 1976, Congress has used the Hyde Amendment to limit federal support for most abortions via Medicaid. A recent Supreme Court ruling in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic further restricted the scope of this conflict by preventing Medicaid recipients from suing states that fund or defund organizations like Planned Parenthood.
Legal analysts suggest it is highly likely that President Trump and Republican state officials will appeal this decision to reach a final resolution before the justices.
