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Cutting Off Federal Funds To Planned Parenthood ‘Unethical and Heartless,’ Massachusetts Planned Parenthood Official Says

February 22, 2019

A Trump administration regulation published Friday that bans federal Title X grants to clinics that perform abortions won’t force Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts to close its doors, the head of the organization said.

But it’s disturbing nonetheless, she said.

“As a doctor for over 20 years, I am appalled that the Trump-Pence administration would release such an unethical and heartless policy,” said Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts, in a written statement, according to MassLive.com.

The federal Title X Family Planning Program, begun in 1970, is designed to provide contraception to poor people.

Federal money is already not allowed to pay for abortions, thanks to the Hyde Amendment. But the new Trump administration regulation aims to provide further separation between federal dollars and abortion services.

“This rule finalizes requirements that ensure clear physical and financial separation between a Title X program and any activities that fall outside the program’s scope. This physical and financial separation will ensure compliance with the statutory requirement that Title X funding not support programs where abortion is a method of family planning …” the regulation states. “This rule will require Title X providers to maintain physical and financial separation from locations which provide abortion as a method of family planning.”

The regulation posted online Friday, February 22 is widely seen as targeting Planned Parenthood because the organization provides contraceptive services and abortions in the same facilities. Planned Parenthood currently gets about $60 million a year nationwide in Title X federal funding.


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