Appeals Court Allows Government to Withhold Funding from Planned Parenthood

Three‑Judge Panel Overturns Lower Court Order

Washington, D.C. — A three‑judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has vacated a preliminary injunction that had temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s effort to stop federal money from flowing to Planned Parenthood and other major abortion‑service providers.

The appellate judges ruled that the district court erred in granting the injunction, clearing the way for the administration to continue its policy of withholding Title X family‑planning funds from organizations that perform abortions or refer patients for them.

Background of the Legal Fight

In early 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services announced a rule that would bar any health‑care provider receiving federal family‑planning money from also offering abortion services, a move critics said violated the Hyde Amendment and the principle of separating funding streams.

Planned Parenthood, along with several other clinics, sued the government, arguing that the rule was unlawful and that the injunction should remain in place while the case proceeded. The district court had agreed, temporarily restoring the flow of funds.

Appeals Court Reasoning

The appellate panel concluded that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated a “likelihood of success on the merits” sufficient to justify keeping the injunction. The judges emphasized that the administration possessed broad discretion in allocating federal dollars and that the challenged rule was within that authority.

Additionally, the court found that the plaintiffs failed to show that the government’s action caused “irreparable harm” that could not be remedied by monetary damages.

Implications and Reactions

The decision is a significant victory for the Trump administration’s broader effort to restrict federal funding for abortion‑related services. Planned Parenthood released a statement calling the ruling “a setback for women’s health and reproductive rights,” and vowed to continue fighting the policy in higher courts.

Republican lawmakers praised the decision, with one senator remarking that “the government has the right to decide how taxpayer dollars are spent, especially when it comes to controversial issues like abortion.”

Next Steps

Planned Parenthood has indicated it will appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services is expected to proceed with implementing the funding restrictions nationwide, potentially affecting thousands of patients who rely on the organization’s services.