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A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a controversial provision of the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act that would cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, delivering a swift legal setback to a central pillar of President Donald Trump’s new domestic policy agenda.
The 14-day restraining order by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani came in response to a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood, which called the provision an unconstitutional effort to punish the organization for providing abortions — even though federal law already prohibits using Medicaid to pay for abortion services, except in narrow circumstances.
“The court acted swiftly to block this unconstitutional law attacking Planned Parenthood providers and patients,” Planned Parenthood said in a joint statement with its Massachusetts and Utah affiliates, which joined the suit.
The Trump-backed provision seeks to bar federal Medicaid dollars from going to organizations ‘primarily engaged in family planning services, reproductive health, and related medical care’ that also perform abortions — language critics say clearly targets Planned Parenthood without naming it directly.
Judge Talwani’s order applies only to Planned Parenthood and its affiliates and will remain in effect for two weeks while the court considers whether to issue a broader preliminary injunction. The Department of Health and Human Services has been ordered to continue Medicaid payments during that time.
Planned Parenthood Warns of Dire Consequences
In their legal filing, Planned Parenthood said more than 50% of their patients are on Medicaid, and cutting off those funds would “have devastating effects” on its ability to provide vital non-abortion services like cancer screenings, birth control access, and STI testing.
“Members may be forced to shutter a substantial number of their health centers nationwide, many of which are in rural or underserved areas without alternative providers,” the lawsuit stated.
The organization said some centers had already begun layoffs and service reductions in anticipation of the funding cutoff.
White House Defends Provision as ‘Commonsense’
A White House official defended the law Monday, saying, “The Trump Administration is ending the forced use of federal taxpayer dollars to fund or promote elective abortion — a commonsense position that the overwhelming majority of Americans agree with.”
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a key anti-abortion group aligned with the Trump administration, called the lawsuit a desperate attempt by Planned Parenthood to protect its funding stream.
“Planned Parenthood’s desperation is showing as they run to the courts again to fix a crisis of their own making,” said Katie Daniel, the group’s legal affairs director.
Legal and Political Implications Mount
The ruling marks the first major court challenge to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping law signed by President Trump just days ago that encompasses tax cuts, regulatory rollbacks, and major shifts in federal spending priorities.
It also comes just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that South Carolina could bar Planned Parenthood from participating in its Medicaid program — a decision that significantly narrowed the organization’s ability to sue under federal civil rights law. However, Judge Talwani’s decision suggests the provision in Trump’s bill may still face legal scrutiny on constitutional grounds, particularly related to equal protection and unlawful targeting.
Legal analysts say the case could become a bellwether for future reproductive rights litigation during Trump’s second term and a test of how far the courts are willing to go in upholding federal restrictions tied to abortion providers.
