By Tom Joyce
The Center Square

A federal judge has blocked the latest effort by the Trump administration to cut Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, drawing criticism from national pro-life leaders who say the ruling goes against the will of voters and Congress.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday that prevents the administration from enforcing part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 22 states and Washington, D.C. The law, passed by a Republican Congress and signed by President Donald Trump, bars Medicaid payments to nonprofit organizations that provide family planning services if they perform abortions and received more than $800,000 in Medicaid funds in fiscal year 2023.

Talwani wrote that the law is “impermissibly ambiguous” and said it would “increase the percentage of patients unable to receive birth control and preventive screenings, thereby prompting an increase in states health care costs,” according to Reuters. She also ruled that the law is likely an unconstitutional retroactive condition on the states that sued.

Her order is paused for seven days to give the administration time to appeal.

SBA Pro-Life America said the ruling marks the third time Talwani has tried to block the defunding measure. The group said Democrats are using courts to protect Planned Parenthood as the organization continues to close locations around the country.

“The Democrats and their radical activist judges are desperately seeking to thwart the will of the people and bail out the Big Abortion industry, led by Planned Parenthood,” SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement. “Planned Parenthood’s more than 40 closures this year are a reflection not only of taxpayers finally having their voice heard, but also their failing business model that prioritizes abortion, politics and profits at the expense of women and children.”

Dannenfelser also pointed to reporting that has raised questions about Planned Parenthood’s quality of care.

“Even The New York Times admits Planned Parenthood systematically fails the women of America, doing irreparable harm with its substandard so-called ‘care’ all while killing millions of babies – they clearly do not deserve half a billion dollars a year in Medicaid funding,” she said.

Planned Parenthood praised the injunction, saying Talwani “again recognized the ‘defund’ law for what it is: unconstitutional and dangerous.”

A three-judge panel on the First Circuit Court of Appeals reversed an earlier ruling from Talwani in September and allowed parts of the law to take effect. Since then, Planned Parenthood says at least 20 of its clinics have closed.

SBA Pro-Life America said it will continue pushing for the funding cutoff to remain in place.

“This fight is not over,” Dannenfelser said. “The pro-life movement will work tirelessly to ensure the Democrats do not prevail and taxpayers are never forced to pay a dime to prop up Big Abortion businesses.”