Moderate Republicans are expected to be the biggest obstacle for anti-abortion advocates seeking to strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood in an upcoming reconciliation package, and some have already begun expressing opposition.
The issue of defunding Planned Parenthood was briefly raised during a closed-door meeting Tuesday evening between Speaker Mike Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and several moderate Republicans, as they discussed potential Medicaid cuts, according to two sources familiar with the discussion, NOTUS reported.
One source said that Reps. Mike Lawler, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Jen Kiggans were among the moderate Republicans who made it clear to House GOP leadership that they oppose including a provision to cut federal funding for Planned Parenthood in a reconciliation bill.
When asked by NOTUS whether defunding Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers had been discussed during the meeting, Speaker Mike Johnson declined to comment directly, saying as he left his office that it “was not on our agenda.” Other Republicans were similarly cautious when questioned about the topic after the meeting.
“That was sort of a closed-door discussion, I’m not going to go into that now,” Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) told reporters.
According to another source who spoke to NOTUS, some Republicans remain genuinely concerned that House leadership may still insert language to defund Planned Parenthood into the reconciliation bill, despite the pushback during Tuesday’s meeting.
At the annual gala for the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America last week, Speaker Mike Johnson vowed that the reconciliation package “is going to redirect funds away from ‘big abortion.’” However, with the GOP holding only a narrow majority in the House—and internal divisions already surfacing over major components like Medicaid, food assistance, and tax policy—adding a defunding provision could further alienate moderate Republicans and jeopardize the bill’s passage.
“We need simplicity in this bill,” Fitzpatrick said of the reconciliation bill, NOTUS noted. “I think there’s other policy areas that we need to focus on.”
After the story was published, a spokesperson for Kiggans said the congresswoman’s position was taken “out of context.”
“Congresswoman Kiggans is proudly pro-life and firmly opposes any federal funding for abortion, ” the spokesperson said in a statement to the outlet. “She attended a closed-door policy discussion with House leadership and Republican colleagues focused on Medicaid reform within the broader reconciliation process.
“The Congresswoman supports thoughtful, targeted Medicaid reforms that strengthen the program, preserve its integrity, and ensure it serves those who it was originally intended to help,” the statement added.
Lawler told NOTUS Tuesday morning that he hasn’t seen specific language on the issue thus far, but added that “fundamentally, obviously, from the standpoint of providing health care to women, you know, I’m not for taking away people’s health care.”
Meanwhile, late Thursday, Trump made another appointment that sent Democrats into a frenzy.
On Thursday, the president announced the appointment of Jeanine Pirro, co-host of the Fox News show “The Five,” to be the interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C.
“I am pleased to announce that Judge Jeanine Pirro will be appointed interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia,” the president said on Truth Social. “Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!”
Her employer, Fox News, responded quickly to the announcement.
“Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across FOX News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington,” a spokesperson for the news organization said.
It came after Republican Sen. Thom Tillis blocked the nomination of the previous interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Ed Martin, from being confirmed.
