Press Release  AG Campbell Sues Trump Administration For Blocking Planned Parenthood From Receiving Medicaid Funding

Boston — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today joined a coalition of 23 states in suing the Trump Administration in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts over a provision in the recently passed budget bill to prevent Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its member health centers from receiving federal Medicaid funding in retaliation for their political advocacy in support of reproductive choice. 

“By illegally targeting Planned Parenthood, this provision of the budget bill would threaten millions of Americans’ access to essential health care like cancer screenings and pregnancy care,” said AG Campbell. “I will continue to champion reproductive justice and fight back against actions that harm the health and wellbeing of our residents.” 

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law a budget bill that includes a stand-alone provision, known as the Defund Provision, that eliminates the use of federal funds for any medical services obtained at Planned Parenthood health centers. Citing years of statements made by President Trump and Republican lawmakers, the attorneys general argue that the provision clearly targets PPFA and its member health centers for their political advocacy in support of abortion rights, as the provision’s four criteria apply to the overwhelming majority of PPFA health centers—regardless of whether they actually provide abortions — but exclude almost all other abortion providers.  

If the Defund Provision takes effect, it will prevent Planned Parenthood health centers – which are the largest providers of contraception; screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections; screening for cancers, such as breast and cervical cancer; and pregnancy care – from providing these vital services to millions of Americans who rely on Medicaid for their essential health care needs.  

States play a key role in the administration of federal funds through Medicaid and other programs, which is why the coalition filed suit to prevent the Trump Administration from forcing Massachusetts and other states to comply with its unlawful Defund Provision. In Massachusetts, MassHealth insures approximately 2 million people, including over 720,000 children and 525,000 seniors and people with disabilities. Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, the Planned Parenthood member in Massachusetts, received approximately $4.7 million in Medicaid payments during fiscal year 2023.  

In their lawsuit, the coalition argues that the Defund Provision is unconstitutional, as it contains several ambiguous provisions and violates the constitutional rights of Planned Parenthood Health centers. Revoking such access will cause devastating health impacts to the states’ most vulnerable residents and cost state Medicaid programs far more money in the long term, as Medicaid enrollees will go without cost-saving preventative care and likely suffer delayed diagnoses of cancer and STIs and increased unintended pregnancies. 

With this lawsuit, AG Campbell and the coalition are asking the court to enjoin the Trump Administration from implementing this unlawful provision, which will lead to widespread disruptions in preventative care and increase healthcare costs if allowed to stand. 

Joining AG Campbell in filing this lawsuit, are attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Josh Shapiro, in his official capacity as governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

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