A federal judge in Boston has issued a nationwide injunction blocking the Trump administration from enforcing a key provision of President Donald Trump’s domestic policy law that aimed to strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood affiliates.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, who had previously barred enforcement of the provision in select cases, expanded that ruling Monday to cover all state and local Planned Parenthood organizations across the country.
In her 58-page order, Talwani warned that the funding restrictions could cause serious harm to patients. “Restricting Members’ ability to provide healthcare services threatens an increase in unintended pregnancies and attendant complications because of reduced access to effective contraceptives, and an increase in undiagnosed and untreated STIs,” she wrote.
The policy at issue, part of President Trump’s sweeping domestic agenda signed into law on July 4, prohibits Medicaid users from receiving care from providers that also offer abortion services—effectively targeting Planned Parenthood and similar health care providers.
Talwani, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, sided with plaintiffs including the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, and the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah. She said they were likely to succeed in their argument that the law unfairly singled out Planned Parenthood for punishment.
“The legislative history and context confirm that the law’s purpose is to single out Planned Parenthood Federation and its Members for punishment,” she wrote, noting that statements made by lawmakers during debate on the measure “support the conclusion that Congress’s intent was punitive.”
Although the legislation does not explicitly name Planned Parenthood, it denies federal funding to any provider “primarily engaged in family planning services, reproductive health, and related medical care” that also performs abortions.
The Trump administration has not yet responded to the ruling. The injunction remains in effect while the broader legal challenge proceeds.
