Federal Judge Upholds Order Halting Medicaid Cuts to Planned Parenthood Clinics

A federal judge has reiterated her ruling to prevent the implementation of a contentious aspect of former President Donald Trump's recently passed tax and spending legislation, which seeks to eliminate Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood health centers and related clinics.

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani rejected the Trump administration’s appeal to remove a temporary restraining order she had put in place earlier that week, shortly after Planned Parenthood initiated a lawsuit. The provision at hand is included in the comprehensive "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which was approved by the Republican-led Congress. This legislation forbids Medicaid reimbursements to nonprofit organizations that offer abortion services and their associated entities.

The Department of Justice described Talwani’s emergency order as "highly unusual" and without sufficient justification. In a recent development, Talwani released a revised order on Friday night, providing clarity on her legal reasoning and confirming that Planned Parenthood is likely to succeed in its constitutional challenge to the law.

Talwani, whom Obama appointed, stated that the law would lead to significant and immediate interruptions in the health care services offered by almost 600 Planned Parenthood centers nationwide. Planned Parenthood has expressed concern over the potential impact of the legislation, as it could result in the closure of nearly 200 clinics across 24 states, jeopardizing the care of millions of people who rely on these facilities for reproductive and general health services.

In her revised decision, Talwani highlighted that the ambiguous wording concerning “affiliates” of abortion providers had created uncertainty among Planned Parenthood’s 47 member organizations. A significant number of these members do not offer abortion services directly—frequently because of state-level limitations—but may still face the threat of funding cuts under the new legislation.

Talwani determined that this uncertainty could potentially violate the First Amendment rights of Planned Parenthood affiliates, especially their right to connect with the national Planned Parenthood Federation of America, known for its advocacy in reproductive rights.

About a 1984 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, she stated, “The Supreme Court has long recognized that the right to engage in activities safeguarded by the First Amendment includes a corresponding right to associate with others in pursuit of desired political, educational, or social objectives.”

Oral arguments in the case are set to take place on July 18. There has been no public statement from either the Department of Justice or Planned Parenthood regarding the recent ruling.

Talwani’s decision suggests that the courts may continue to push back against new laws targeting reproductive health providers, especially when it comes to protecting rights related to free speech and association.