A Massachusetts judge halts the Trump administration’s attempt to strip Medicaid funds from some Planned Parenthood facilities.

Federal Judge Issues Injunction on Medicaid Funding Cuts

A federal judge in Massachusetts has issued a temporary injunction, blocking the Trump administration from removing Medicaid funding from certain Planned Parenthood facilities following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The injunction, delivered by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani, came in response to a lawsuit brought by Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, challenging provisions in the new federal budget law.

The legislation, signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, included measures to strip Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood. The nonprofit warned that the law could force the closure of nearly a third of its 600 locations, impacting over one million patients who rely on services that do not involve abortion. In court filings, Planned Parenthood attorneys stressed that Medicaid typically does not fund abortion services and that the bill would lead to grave health consequences for low-income populations—such as undetected cancer, sexually transmitted infections, and increased unplanned pregnancies due to reduced access to contraception.

Judge Talwani found that the law, as written, unconstitutionally punishes Planned Parenthood member organizations that do not provide abortions. Her order, which partially grants a preliminary injunction, applies to some but not all facilities—specifically, those that do not provide abortion services or receive less than $800,000 annually in Medicaid reimbursements. Talwani noted that the injunction would pose “at most minimal harm—financial or otherwise” to the Trump administration as litigation proceeds.

Planned Parenthood Calls Ruling a Partial Win

Planned Parenthood responded to the judge’s decision by expressing cautious optimism. “While we’re grateful that the court recognized the harm caused by this law, we’re disappointed that not all members were granted the necessary relief today,” the organization stated, adding, “This isn’t over.” The group remains hopeful that the court will provide broader protections as the legal battle continues.

The Trump administration’s Department of Justice had argued that the budget provision’s aim was to halt federal funding for what it described as “Big Abortion” and to redirect resources away from organizations that perform abortions. Weakening Planned Parenthood has long been a priority for the pro-life movement, particularly since the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade.

Judge Talwani’s earlier temporary restraining order was met with criticism from Republican lawmakers, who decried it as judicial overreach. DOJ attorneys continue to assert that blocking a duly enacted law is unwarranted and that Planned Parenthood’s claimed economic harms do not justify such a measure. The judge, however, disagreed and left in place a partial pause on the funding cuts while the legal process unfolds.

The case is likely to advance to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, as the Trump administration signals its intention to challenge the injunction. As the court battle continues, the ultimate fate of Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood—and the health services it provides to millions—remains uncertain.