About 50 Planned Parenthood clinics close nationwide amid Trump-era funding cuts

This year, approximately 50 Planned Parenthood clinics have closed their doors across the United States, a trend that advocates attribute primarily to federal funding cuts implemented by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.

States that still permit abortion and have seen Medicaid growth have strongly felt the effects. Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, operating clinics in Connecticut and Rhode Island, has encountered months of uncertainty following the Trump administration’s tax and spending bill, which suspended federal funding, including Medicaid reimbursements for preventive care.

The federal funding supported services including contraception, cancer screenings, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. The reduction in reimbursements has created challenges for affiliates that depend significantly on Medicaid patients.

Amanda Skinner, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, referred to the provision as a “backdoor abortion ban” in states where abortion remains legal.

Skinner expressed concern that the loss of funding could lead to the closure of clinics or a reduction in services. Although patient demand has stayed consistent, uncertainty is beginning to impact access.

“Simultaneously, the feedback we receive from our patients during their calls and outreach is filled with fear and concern that we may have already closed and that perhaps we will not be able to accommodate them,” Skinner stated.

The organization’s 2024 report indicates that 43% of PPSNE patients were enrolled in Medicaid or Medicare. According to Skinner, since the implementation of the federal law, the unpaid reimbursements for preventive care in Connecticut and Rhode Island have reached approximately $1 million each month.

Planned Parenthood of Southern New England has depended on financial reserves to maintain operations; however, Skinner indicated that this strategy is not viable in the long term.

“For most of our patients, we are their sole health care provider,” Skinner stated. "We have dedicated ourselves for many years to ensure that no one faces financial hardship."

On Thursday, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced that the state would allocate $8.5 million from its emergency relief fund to help offset lost Medicaid reimbursements until early July 2026, providing some much-needed relief. The proposal allots $1.9 million to address the frozen Title X family planning funds issue.

State lawmakers approved a $500 million emergency pool last November, specifically for addressing federal program cuts, from which the funding comes.

The decision faced criticism from opponents. Peter Wolfgang, president of Family Institute of Connecticut Action, stated that the state ought not to support Planned Parenthood due to its provision of abortions.

“It is an outrage that this procedure is occurring and that the public, along with its representatives, had no input in the matter,” Wolfgang stated.

Connecticut law has safeguarded abortion rights for decades. Nevertheless, Skinner noted that the post-Roe landscape has instilled a sense of fear in many patients.

“There is a concern that the rights we possess could be diminished, and even if they remain intact, they might not be genuinely accessible to everyone,” she stated.

A lawsuit initiated in late July by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, along with attorneys general from 22 additional states, remains unresolved. A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction that halts the enforcement of the defunding provision, while the Trump administration has filed an appeal.

According to the organization, other states such as California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Washington have also dedicated state funding to assist Planned Parenthood in compensating for lost Medicaid reimbursements.