A few moderate Republicans have reportedly raised concerns about including parents’ refunds in a settlement package during a meeting on Tuesday with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Majority Leader Steve Scullies (R-LA), according to sources familiar with the matter.
Many Republicans and pro-life advocates are leveraging budget changes to diminish funding for Planned Parenthood, which provides a variety of services beyond abortions. While the Hyde Amendment forbids taxpayer funding for abortions, opponents seek to stop funds to any organization that performs them.
One insider mentioned that Mike Lawler (R-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Jen Kigan (R-VA) were among moderate Republicans against federal funding cuts in the proposed settlement.
Johnson commented to NOTUS after his office meeting that discussions about planning parental refunds “aren’t on our agenda.” At last week’s Susan B. Anthony Prolife America gala, he stated the settlement bill “will redirect funds from major abortion providers.”
Other Republicans appeared cautious when discussing this issue, as noted in the report.
“It was a pretty closed-door conversation. I can’t share much more,” Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) told reporters.
Before the meeting, Fitzpatrick emphasized that Republicans need “simplicity” in the settlement bill and suggested they should focus on other policy areas.
Following the NotUS report, a spokesperson for Kiggans commented that her stance was misrepresented, asserting, “Rep. Kiggans is committed to protecting life and opposes federal abortion funding.” The spokesperson added that she participated in discussions centered on Medicaid reform within a wider settlement framework, aiming for thoughtful reforms to support the program’s integrity.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee, including Republicans, is tasked with rethinking custody while aiming to cut $880 billion. The report suggests that funding cuts for parental planning have surfaced in various meetings.
Lawler mentioned he had never encountered specific language on this issue, stating, “From a healthcare perspective for women, I’m not trying to deny anyone healthcare.”
“Clearly, Planned Parenthood provides numerous services beyond abortion-related care, so we need to evaluate their proposals carefully,” Lawler said.
President Donald Trump has urged Republicans to pass his agenda through a comprehensive “one big beautiful bill.” This would allow them to reimburse abortion services via the settlement process, potentially bypassing the critical 60-vote requirement for a simple majority.
After Trump’s election, Johnson expressed interest in cutting funds for Planned Parenthood. Notably, Elon Musk suggested using his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to target abortion-related funding. Reports from March indicated that the Trump administration aimed to freeze $120 million in federal grants for family planning.
In April, tens of millions of Title X funds were frozen by the Trump administration, citing potential violations of civil rights laws by several Planned Parenthood affiliates.
According to Planned Parenthood’s 2023 Annual Report, taxpayer funding through government grants, contracts, and Medicaid reimbursement totaled $699.3 million—34% of their total revenues.
Planned Parenthood’s taxpayer funding has increased by 43% since 2010, as noted by the Pro-Life Charlotte Lozier Institute’s analysis.
The organization reported receiving $997.5 million from private contributions, a 44% rise from earlier figures, bringing its total revenue to nearly $2.1 billion, with a net worth exceeding $2.5 billion.
The report also highlights a rise in abortions at Planned Parenthood, with 392,716 reported between 2021 and 2022, marking a 5% increase from the previous year and a 20% rise over the last decade, even as total services saw a 17% decline.
