Anti-Abortion Activists Think Reconciliation Is Their Best Shot for Defunding Planned Parenthood

Allies of the anti-abortion movement are having private and public talks to make their goal of ending federal funding for Planned Parenthood happen soon.

March for Life attendees hold defund Planned Parenthood signs

Bill Clark/AP

Over 300 anti-abortion activists descended on the halls of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday to urge lawmakers to strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood via reconciliation — a goal advocates say is in sight under the Republican trifecta in Washington.

“I think that we need to strike while the iron is hot,” said Michael New, a senior associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, an anti-abortion research organization. “The most productive years for any new presidential administration is, you know, their first few months. I think this is probably our best opportunity to really make some cuts in Planned Parenthood, and I think we’re wise to be organized.”

The Trump administration is reportedly planning to freeze millions of dollars in Title X Family Planning Program grants for certain organizations, including Planned Parenthood affiliates, The Wall Street Journal reported, similarly to when President Donald Trump in his first term enacted a policy that barred organizations that gave referrals for abortions from receiving Title X money. (The Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to NOTUS’ request for comment.)