Trump Administration Begins Enforcing Ban on Title X Funds Going to Abortion Providers

Last week, the Trump administration began enforcing its new Title X rules, which would prevent federal family-planning grants to go to organizations that refer clients for abortions. This comes after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals refused a request from abortion providers and 20 states and the District of Columbia, to block the rules from going into effect.

The Department of Health and Human Services had changed the rules regarding Title X family-planning grants in February. Among other changes, the final rule now requires a clear financial and physical separation between Title X funded projects and programs/facilities where abortion is a method of family planning, and prohibits abortion referrals as a method of family planning by eliminating the requirement that Title X providers offer abortion counseling and referral. Planned Parenthood has stated that it will continue to challenge the rules in court, but in the meantime will start using its "emergency funds" in place of the grants. More information on the final Title X rule can be found on the HHS website.