Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has joined a coalition of 23 states in suing the Trump Administration over a provision in the newly passed “Big Beautiful Bill” that cuts off Medicaid reimbursements for essential services provided by Planned Parenthood health centers.
The lawsuit targets the so-called “Defund Provision,” which effectively bars federal Medicaid funds from going to nonprofit health centers that primarily provide reproductive healthcare and offer abortions not covered by Medicaid. In Connecticut, this move threatens care for over 24,000 Medicaid patients who rely on Planned Parenthood each year for cancer screenings, birth control, STI testing, and wellness exams.
“Interfering with people’s healthcare means risking their lives,” said Attorney General Tong. “This is yet another mean-spirited attack on women, LGBTQ+ individuals, communities of color, low-income patients, and providers. The State of Connecticut will not be a tool for this Administration’s unlawful agenda. The ‘Defund Provision’ impacts not only Planned Parenthood, but it undermines the public health of Connecticut’s residents, the goals of the Medicaid program and the State of Connecticut’s budget, which is why we are joining other states in filing this action today -- to protect the interests of all our residents.”
Planned Parenthood Federation of America recently secured a court ruling declaring the Defund Provision unconstitutional. The state coalition’s lawsuit builds on that decision, arguing the provision is impermissibly vague, violates the Spending Clause, and will increase healthcare costs by tens of millions of dollars over the next decade.
"Every person, no matter where they live, what kind of care they need, or how much money they have, should be able to get high-quality, affordable health care,” said Gretchen Raffa, Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. “We are grateful to Attorney General Tong for fighting to protect reproductive rights and defend our freedoms in court.”
