Slate News What Next | How Planned Parenthood Got Defunded
Nov 24, 2025
Shefali Luthra, a reproductive health reporter at The 19th, and George Hill, President of Maine Family Planning, dive into the harsh realities of funding cuts affecting Planned Parenthood. They explore how federal policies have led to clinic closures and the implications for reproductive health access. Luthra discusses the impact of the Title X funding freeze and the political strategies behind defunding. Hill shares insights on sustaining services amidst these challenges and the proactive measures being taken to ensure continued care.
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Closures Driven By Sudden Federal Funding Loss
- Planned Parenthood clinic closures share a common cause: sudden loss of federal resources, not identical local issues.
- Shefali Luthra links frozen Title X grants and Medicaid restrictions to nearly 70 clinics closing or scaling back.
Title X Freeze Had Immediate Local Impact
- Title X funds low-income contraception and family planning providers and have long been bipartisan.
- In April the HHS froze millions to 16 contractors, forcing budget revisions and scaled-back services, Shefali Luthra explains.
Medicaid Billing Ban Targets Large Abortion Providers
- A provision in the reconciliation bill bars organizations that provide abortion and receive large federal payments from billing Medicaid.
- Shefali Luthra and others say the rule is clearly tailored to target Planned Parenthood despite not naming it.
