Thousands of Pennsylvanians just had their reproductive health care halted by President Trump

Pennsylvania will lose a majority of its Title X funding—the only federal family planning program in the country. Planned Parenthood clinics, county health departments, and community-based health centers will all be impacted.

Every year, around 40,000 Pennsylvanians rely on Planned Parenthood for essential health care services, such as cancer screenings, STI testing, affordable birth control, and more.

That includes more than 4,700 patients annually who benefit from Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania’s (PPWP) no-fee or sliding fee scale.

That’s what’s on the line this week, after the Trump administration sent letters to reproductive health clinics in 20 states—including Pennsylvania—announcing that much or all of their federal Title X funding had been frozen. One such organization that got a letter was PPWP, which uses $400,000 annually in Title X funds.

“This decision is cruel, reckless, and rooted in political ideology rather than public health,” said Signe Espinoza, executive director of Planned Parenthood PA Advocates. “Title X funding is a lifeline for people who would otherwise be unable to afford essential health services. By cutting off access, this administration is putting lives at risk and disproportionately harming Black, Brown, and rural communities who already face barriers to care.”

According to PPWP, the Trump administration’s letter said that portions of the clinic’s Title X funding were withheld due to the organization’s diversity statement, which potentially “violates Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act,” and pledges to provide health care to people regardless of their immigration status.

As part of the funding freeze, the Trump administration has additionally demanded that all targeted clinics must hand over the names of their patients within 10 days, including those who are undocumented.

Title X funding was reduced to $0 in Maine, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Tennessee, and Utah.

Pennsylvania is expected to lose a majority of its Title X funding. In the state, the funding is used to support family planning and reproductive health service at Planned Parenthood offices, county health departments, community-based health centers, and other organizations.

Started in 1970, Title X is a federal program that provides funding to clinics that offer affordable sexual and reproductive health care to low-income women. It is the country’s only federal family  planning program. About 4 million people receive free or reduced services under the program at about 4,000 clinics across the nation.

In the US, 60% of women consider a publicly-funded clinic their usual source of medical care, while 40% say it is their only source of medical care.

“The Trump administration’s plan to freeze Title X funding is a direct attack on our fundamental rights,” said Espinoza. “

Planned Parenthood is a major provider of Title X services in Pennsylvania. The funding freeze will force some clinics to reduce hours, limit services, or close altogether.