National Abortion Federation Statement on Court Ruling to “Defund” Planned Parenthood

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
September 12, 2025 
CONTACT: Carina Pacheco, [email protected] 

NATIONAL —Yesterday afternoon, the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Planned Parenthood, allowing the federal government to block patients from using Medicaid to pay for services at Planned Parenthood health centers. Brittany Fonteno, President & CEO of the National Abortion Federation, released the following statement:

“Anti-abortion extremists remain relentless in their attacks on reproductive health care. This decision isn’t just about one provider — it threatens the entire reproductive health care system, and patients seeking essential care will pay the price.

When Planned Parenthood health centers are forced to close, pressure mounts on other clinics already stretched thin to provide sexual and reproductive health services. This cruel decision will disproportionately impact people of color and people living in rural communities and health care deserts, who will be left with even fewer options and longer wait times to get the care they need. Any additional barriers to care are both unacceptable and dangerous.

Everyone deserves access to high-quality, affordable reproductive health care, no matter where they live or how much money they make. These senseless and politically motivated attacks deny people the fundamental right of getting the care they need and deserve.”

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The National Abortion Federation is the nation’s largest and leading professional association of abortion providers. NAF represents hundreds of providers and clinics across the country that are on the frontlines of helping people access abortion care. They provide members with trainings, security support, and guidelines for the gold standard of abortion care. NAF also operates the National Abortion Hotline, the largest national, multi-lingual abortion hotline in the U.S, which helps anyone in any state understand their care options, including finding a provider, arranging travel to another state, or funding their care. Twitter. Facebook. Instagram. National Abortion Hotline: 1-800-772-9100.