BOSTON (Diya TV) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from cutting Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, halting part of a major new law just days after President Donald Trump signed it.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts issued a 14-day temporary restraining order. The order prevents the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from enforcing a section of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This part of the bill aimed to cut off Medicaid funding to any health provider that offers abortion services, including Planned Parenthood.
The judge directed HHS to “take all steps necessary to ensure that Medicaid funding continues” to Planned Parenthood during this time.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America, along with its affiliates in Massachusetts and Utah, filed a lawsuit challenging the new law. They argue the legislation unfairly targets their organization for providing legal abortion services—even though federal Medicaid dollars do not pay for abortions except in limited cases such as rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is at risk.
The lawsuit states the law is “a naked attempt to leverage the government’s spending power to attack and penalize Planned Parenthood.” The plaintiffs claim the provision would deny patients access to essential non-abortion services, such as cancer screenings, STI testing, and birth control.
Planned Parenthood said the funding cuts would have “devastating consequences” for its network. The organization provides care to more than 1 million Medicaid patients annually. Without funding, it warned, many local clinics—especially those in rural or underserved areas—could be forced to close.
“Many Planned Parenthood members will be required to lay off staff and curtail services,” the lawsuit says. “Worse still, members may be forced to shutter a substantial number of their health centers nationwide.”
Dominique Lee, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, said her organization will not back down. “We were built for this moment,” Lee said. “We will never be bullied into turning our backs on health care or human rights.”
The Trump administration defended the law as a measure to stop federal tax dollars from indirectly supporting abortion services. A White House official told Fox News Digital, “The Trump Administration is ending the forced use of Federal taxpayer dollars to fund or promote elective abortion — a commonsense position that the overwhelming majority of Americans agree with.”
Anti-abortion groups also backed the administration’s position. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America called the lawsuit an act of “desperation.” Katie Daniel, the group’s director of legal affairs, said, “Planned Parenthood’s desperation is showing as they run to the courts again to fix a crisis of their own making.”
The legal battle follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing South Carolina to block Planned Parenthood from its state Medicaid program. The Court ruled the organization could not sue under federal civil rights law to challenge the state’s decision.
The temporary restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days while the court considers further arguments. The case could set a major legal precedent for how states and the federal government fund healthcare providers that offer abortion services.Planned Parenthood hopes to win a permanent injunction to prevent the funding cuts from taking effect nationwide.
