by More than 20 states, primarily led by Democratic governors, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging a new federal policy that cuts Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood and similar healthcare providers. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, alleges that the move is unconstitutional and targets reproductive health services.
The new policy stems from a package of tax breaks and spending cuts signed into law by former President Donald Trump earlier this month. Among the measures is a provision that suspends Medicaid payments for one year to family planning providers that received more than $800,000 in Medicaid funding during 2023. While the legislation was designed to target Planned Parenthood, it has also impacted at least one major healthcare provider in Maine.
States involved in the legal challenge include California, New York, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C., among others. In their complaint, they argue that the law’s language is vague about which providers are affected and say the provision represents retaliation against Planned Parenthood for its advocacy of abortion rights — a violation of the First Amendment’s free speech protections.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to block the provision and declare it unconstitutional.
“This is a direct attack on essential healthcare services like cancer screenings, birth control access, and STI treatment,” said a representative from California’s attorney general’s office. “Stripping funding from providers who serve millions of Americans just because of political disagreement is both dangerous and unlawful.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, named as a defendant in the lawsuit, has defended the measure, arguing that it aligns with federal goals to ensure responsible use of Medicaid funds.
The legal battle could have wide-reaching implications for reproductive healthcare access and Medicaid policy nationwide.
