Home Industries Health Services Neronha, coalition seek preliminary injunction to block defunding of Planned Parenthood

Neronha, coalition seek preliminary injunction to block defunding of Planned Parenthood

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PBN Staff

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09/25/2025

Peter F. Neronha — R.I. ATTORNEY GENERAL Peter F. Neronha, 21 other attorneys general and Pa. Gov. Josh D. Shapiro on Thursday filed a motion for preliminary injunction to block defunding of Planned Parenthood and other health centers. / COURTESY R.I. OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

PROVIDENCE – R.I. Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, 21 other attorneys general and Pa. Gov. Josh D. Shapiro on Thursday filed a motion for preliminary injunction to block defunding of Planned Parenthood and other health centers. The “Defund Provision,” enacted in Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” excludes certain health centers, including Planned Parenthood health centers, from receiving federal

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PROVIDENCE – R.I. Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, 21 other attorneys general and Pa. Gov. Josh D. Shapiro on Thursday filed a motion for preliminary injunction to block defunding of Planned Parenthood and other health centers. The “Defund Provision,” enacted in Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” excludes certain health centers, including Planned Parenthood health centers, from receiving federal Medicaid reimbursements. The provision instructs the federal government to end Medicaid payments for one year to abortion providers that received more than $800,000 from Medicaid in 2023, even to those such as Planned Parenthood that also offer medical services like contraception, pregnancy tests and testing for sexually transmitted diseases. The coalition argues these centers provide essential health care services to low-income patients. “As the federal government continues its attempts to dismantle health care in this country, we have no time to spare in shielding Americans from the harm these initiatives will cause,” Neronha said. "In Rhode Island, we already have primary care shortages, hospitals on the brink of closure and newly approved increases in health insurance rates, which will have families choosing between rent, food and health insurance coverage. We cannot afford another hit to our health system, and we won’t let this administration’s unlawful actions make the situation worse.” After filing suit over the Defund Provision on July 29, the coalition is now asking the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to grant its motion for a preliminary injunction. In the coalition’s view, the Defund Provision would result in irreparable harm to the states if allowed to stay in effect. In a related lawsuit, a U.S. Appeals Court panel on Sept. 11 allowed the Trump administration to block Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood while legal challenges continue. This came after a federal judge in July ruled that Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide must continue to be reimbursed for Medicaid funding as the nation’s largest abortion provider fights the Trump administration over efforts to defund the organization in his signature tax legislation. The coalition’s lawsuit alleges that the Defund Provision violates the U.S. Constitution’s Spending Clause due to the lack of clear notice and the inclusion of unconstitutional provisions. Specifically, the coalition claims it’s evident that Planned Parenthood health centers are the clear target of the Defund Provision, but Congress failed to adequately define the full scope of providers that qualify as “prohibited entities” and the timing of the prohibition on federal reimbursements to such entities. Joining Neronha and Shapiro in the motion are the attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.