Philadelphia Council Declares Abortion Rights “Human Rights” as Funding Cuts Draw Scrutiny

On Thursday, the City Council passed a resolution recognizing abortion rights as human rights. This symbolic action came as local advocates urged officials to reinstate reproductive health funding removed from the city’s budget.

The resolution, put forth by Councilmember Kendra Brooks, emerged as abortion providers and reproductive health organizations raised alarms about increasing financial pressures. Brooks, chair of the city’s newly established Reproductive Freedom Task Force, noted that the latest budget, approved in June, eliminated funding for reproductive care.

“In our latest budget, there was no allocation for reproductive care, which is certainly concerning,” Brooks stated. “It’s frustrating to see cities like Chicago, Atlanta, and Baltimore taking action with direct funding for abortion and reproductive care, while here in Philly we can’t even secure a hearing.”

In the past two years, Philadelphia allocated over $1 million for reproductive health initiatives. In the aftermath of the 2022 Dobbs decision that reversed Roe v. Wade, the city allocated $500,000 to the Abortion Liberation Fund of Pennsylvania. 

In 2024, Philadelphia allocated an additional $500,000 to Planned Parenthood and designated $450,000 for various reproductive health services. However, Brooks expressed concern that the removal of funding for this fiscal year has raised alarms among providers already under national pressure.

In recent developments, a total of 34 clinics in states where abortion is still permitted have shut down in the past two years, attributing their closures to challenges related to operations and finances. In September, a federal appeals court allowed the Trump administration to restrict Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood. This change, the organization claims, could lead to the potential closure of around 200 centers.

During the meeting on Thursday, advocates from the Reproductive Freedom Task Force urged the Committee on Public Health to hold a formal hearing. They contended that the city needs to tackle increasing challenges, such as the financial strain on providers, the risk of clinic shutdowns, and the emergence of crisis pregnancy centers.

“Ensuring access to abortion and reproductive health care is not just a matter for the federal government; it concerns us all,” stated Katia Pérez, executive director of the Abortion Liberation Fund of Pennsylvania. Although the city granted permission for a hearing in September, Pérez noted that no specific date had been set.

In September, Planned Parenthood disclosed that it had covered $45 million in Medicaid expenses, a figure the organization deemed unsustainable. Brooks stated that she has not come across any reports of clinics shutting down in Philadelphia due to financial issues but cautioned, “There’s always a chance when there’s no funding.”

Advocates raised alarms regarding crisis pregnancy centers, commonly known as CPCs. Critics argue that these “fake clinics” imitate genuine medical providers while attempting to persuade pregnant women against seeking abortions. Across the country, there are three times as many CPCs as there are abortion providers. In Pennsylvania, the disparity is significant—154 CPCs in contrast to a much smaller number of abortion providers, creating a ratio of 9-to-1.

Advocates for the resolution expressed that the vote on Thursday represents progress in enhancing safeguards in a city where access to women's health care is still at risk. However, they highlighted that without renewed financial support, providers of reproductive health services may face increased risks due to ongoing federal and state challenges.