The House Energy Committee shared details about a proposed budget adjustment bill on Sunday.
As suggested previously by Trump in 2015 and 2017 during his first term, following strong appeals from conservative groups and organizations related to life support, some Republicans and Trump himself have called for an end to taxpayer funding for abortion providers via settlements.
By reimbursing abortion providers through these settlements, the Senate can attempt to utilize the Republican majority to avoid the essential 60 votes typically needed for a simple majority. Although federal funding for abortion is specifically restricted by the Hyde Amendment, proponents of pro-life initiatives argue that federal funds should not, under any circumstances, be allocated for this purpose.
Brett Guthrie (R-KY), chair of the House Committee, has made the committee’s proposals available ahead of the Budget Adjustment Markup scheduled for Tuesday at 2 PM. The text outlines that federal funds will not be extended to “prohibited entities” that primarily offer family planning, reproductive health, and abortion services for a decade after the law’s enactment.
This bill defines a “prohibited entity” as one that focuses mainly on services related to family planning and conducts abortions, excluding cases resulting from rape or incest. It also considers situations where a woman’s life is at risk, as confirmed by a physician, unless an abortion is performed.
The initiative arises after objections were raised by moderate Republicans regarding reimbursements to abortion providers during private discussions among House leaders.
Additionally, Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) previously reached out to Rep. Guthrie, urging him to “exhaust all legislative avenues” to halt any federal funds associated with planned parenthood initiatives.
In a statement to the media, Miller praised Guthrie for incorporating these provisions but noted that there’s still significant work ahead. “I commend President Guthrie for taking steps to stop taxpayer-funded Medicaid dollars from going to abortion providers and other services that put vulnerable Americans at risk,” she remarked. “This is a challenging fight, but we are determined to use every resource to prevent these organizations from harming innocent lives.”
The prominent pro-life group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America also lauded this decision, asserting the need to cease taxpayer support for the abortion industry.
“It’s time to stop using taxpayer money to fund this extensive abortion industry. Thanks to Johnson and Brett Guthrie, this year’s budget bill includes sensible language aimed at achieving that goal,” they stated.
“Taxpayers shouldn’t be compelled to support an industry that exploits women and girls. They are responsible for the highest number of abortions while pulling in nearly $2 million a day, leading to the deaths of approximately 400,000 babies annually,” they added.
Dannenfelser emphasized that alternatives to organizations like Planned Parenthood exist, providing high-quality care in community health centers that outnumber them 15 to 1 across the nation. She noted that these centers offer more comprehensive care without involving abortion.
“Funding the abortion industry is a misuse of taxpayer money, and it’s shocking that this has persisted for so long,” she argued. “The previous administration included provisions in the 2017 settlement bill, and we have a unique opportunity to make substantial changes come 2025.”
After Trump’s election, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) expressed his desire to cut funding for planned parenthood initiatives, while Elon Musk suggested utilizing his Government Efficiency Department to withdraw funds from abortion organizations. Reports indicated that the Trump administration plans to freeze federal allocations for planned parenthood, which could amount to $120 million this year.
In April, the same administration also froze millions in Title X funding, citing potential violations of federal civil rights laws linked to several planned parenthood affiliates.
Overall, Trump has urged Republicans to advance his agenda through significant budget reforms.
According to Planned Parenthood’s latest annual report, taxpayer funding reached $699.3 million, constituting 34% of the overall revenue for the organization.
The analysis showed that taxpayer contributions to Planned Parenthood increased by 43% since 2010. The organization reported nearly $2.1 billion in total revenue and more than $2.5 billion in net worth.
Between 2021 and 2022, Planned Parenthood conducted approximately 392,716 abortions—a 5% increase from the prior year.
Simultaneously, data revealed an increase in income for Planned Parenthood executives, with CEO salaries rising by 11% from 2020 to 2023. The current President of Planned Parenthood, Alexis McGill Johnson, reportedly earns $904,014 annually.
