The Trump administration has issued the fifth and final year of Biden-era Title X family planning grants to Planned Parenthood amid legal challenges. White House spokesman Kush Desai confirmed the extension, stating the administration faced significant hurdles in halting the funds. Pro-life leaders expressed strong disappointment over the decision.
The White House paused the Biden-era grants in 2025, leading to legal challenges from Planned Parenthood and allied groups. The Department of Health and Human Services unfroze the funds in January, drawing outcry from pro-life activists who noted the lack of amendments to 42 U.S. Code Part 300 on family planning grants. As first reported by The Daily Wire, rumblings emerged on Monday evening, with Desai confirming the details Tuesday morning. “The administration has issued the fifth and final year of Title X grants that were locked in place during the Biden presidency,” Desai said. “The administration faced significant legal challenges in stopping any of these dollars from going out.” Title X funds cannot be used for abortions by law, Desai emphasized, adding that the move aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order on Enforcing the Hyde Amendment. He noted that HHS will soon release a new five-year funding cycle prioritizing the administration’s pro-life and pro-family agenda. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services continue to implement defunding of Planned Parenthood in Medicaid under the One Big Beautiful Bill. Pro-life leaders reacted sharply. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA Pro-Life America, called it “an inexplicable slap in the face to the pro-life GOP base,” citing polls showing three-quarters of GOP base voters support defunding Planned Parenthood. Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, questioned the rationale, urging enforcement of the Comstock Act on abortion drugs in a post on X.
