Trump Administration Scores Legal Victory
The Trump administration has achieved a notable success in its efforts to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
A three-judge panel from the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that Planned Parenthood is unlikely to succeed in its legal challenge against the defunding provision of the One Big Beautiful Act. This decision overturned two previous rulings by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani.
Judge Gustavo Gelpi, in his 41-page opinion released on Friday, stated, “Because Appellees are unlikely to succeed on the merits of their claims, we vacate the district court’s July 21 and July 28, 2025, orders granting the preliminary injunctions and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
The judges, all appointed by President Biden, dismissed Planned Parenthood’s argument that Section 71113 of the OBBA constitutes an unconstitutional bill of attainder. They clarified that “punishment” refers to retribution for past actions.
“In contrast, Section 71113 looks ahead,” Judge Gelpi explained. “It imposes no fine or other penalty for past conduct. Instead, it establishes new conditions on the receipt of appropriated funds in service of a new policy goal favored by Congress.”
This provision within President Trump’s key domestic policy legislation prohibits federal Medicaid funds from being allocated to nonprofit healthcare providers that perform abortions and have received at least $800,000 in state and federal Medicaid reimbursements during fiscal year 2023.
This definition affects approximately 37 out of Planned Parenthood’s estimated 47 affiliates and two other healthcare providers not associated with them. Judge Talwani had previously concluded that this measure unfairly targeted Planned Parenthood without due process.
Judge Gelpi countered this view by noting that if Planned Parenthood affiliates wish to regain Medicaid funding, they can do so by ceasing abortion services.
“Section 71113 does not impose punishment on Appellees,” he stated. “It instead uses Congress’s taxing and spending power to put Appellees to a difficult choice: give up federal Medicaid funds and continue providing abortion services or continue receiving such funds by abandoning abortion services.”
The ruling also indicated that the defunding provision does not violate First Amendment rights or the Equal Protection Clause, again overturning Judge Talwani’s findings.
The appellate court’s decision was celebrated by pro-life advocates online as a major victory. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America remarked on social media about how the ruling effectively nullified Judge Talwani’s previous decision blocking defunding efforts.
The Planned Parenthood Federation of America responded with determination, stating that their fight is far from over but did not immediately indicate whether they would appeal this latest ruling.
“Today, a court has once again allowed the Trump administration to enforce Congress’s unconstitutional ‘defund’ of Planned Parenthood — enabling their attempts to block access to care for patients most in need,” said PPFA President Alexis McGill Johnson.
