A Biden-appointed federal judge has blocked a key provision in the 2025 Reconciliation Act that would have stripped Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood and affiliated abortion providers.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of the measure, claiming it violates the First Amendment and other constitutional protections.
Provision Targeted Abortion Providers
The now-paused provision would have barred Medicaid reimbursements to any provider affiliated with an organization that performs elective abortions and receives over $800,000 in funding — a move designed to target Planned Parenthood without banning it outright.
Judge Talwani argued that this restriction amounted to unconstitutional coercion, effectively forcing clinics to disaffiliate from Planned Parenthood or lose funding, even if they don’t perform abortions themselves.
She ruled that this disincentivizes expressive association and imposes a “burden” on First Amendment rights, triggering “strict scrutiny” review.
Political Advocacy at the Center
The judge cited comments from lawmakers like Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), who said, “I am proud to defund Planned Parenthood once and for all,” as proof that the law was politically motivated.
Talwani wrote that the provision was not a neutral funding measure, but rather targeted Planned Parenthood for its viewpoints and advocacy — not for any illegal actions.
She claimed the law would cause “adverse health consequences,” such as increased unintended pregnancies and disruptions in contraceptive care.
Right Blasts Ruling as Judicial Activism
Conservatives slammed the decision as a blatant case of judicial overreach.
“This Biden-appointed judge ruled Congress can’t defund Planned Parenthood because it might lead to ‘unintended pregnancies,’” one commentator wrote. “This may be the most baseless, insane ruling I’ve ever seen.”
Another labeled it a “judicial coup,” accusing the court of blocking Trump’s pro-life agenda without legal grounds.
Battle Likely Headed to Supreme Court
The ruling does not compel the government to fund abortions, but it blocks the administration from excluding Planned Parenthood affiliates from Medicaid funding — for now.
Legal experts expect the case to escalate, possibly reaching the U.S. Supreme Court as the fight over abortion funding and free speech intensifies under a Trump-led administration.
While the injunction is temporary, it signals a broader legal war ahead over Congress’s authority to defund controversial organizations.
