A federal judge in Massachusetts has dealt a blow to national and local pro-life efforts by blocking a key provision in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, ensuring that abortion giant Planned Parenthood will continue to receive millions in taxpayer funding.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, an Obama appointee based in Boston, granted a preliminary injunction in Planned Parenthood v. Kennedy, halting enforcement of a provision that would have banned Medicaid payments to organizations that perform abortions and received over $800,000 in federal funds in 2023. The legislation does not name Planned Parenthood directly, but its criteria apply to the abortion chain.
The ruling follows a temporary restraining order issued by Talwani earlier this month—initially without legal justification—a move that drew immediate criticism from pro-life lawmakers and advocacy groups. Monday’s injunction solidifies that decision, keeping federal money flowing to the abortion industry despite the law’s intent to redirect those funds toward life-affirming healthcare providers.
National pro-life leaders say the ruling undermines a historic legislative win and highlights the deep entrenchment of abortion politics in the judiciary.
“An activist judge just prolonged the forced taxpayer funding of Big Abortion, a desperate attempt to run out the clock, and a shameful abuse of our tax dollars,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. “Every day her decision remains in effect, millions are funneled into a business that profits from ending unborn lives and putting women at risk.”
Dannenfelser emphasized the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill, which for the first time successfully blocked over half a billion dollars from being funneled into the abortion industry.
“Life is winning. And Big Abortion’s death grip is slipping,” she continued. “With community health centers outnumbering Planned Parenthood facilities 15 to 1, women have better, more comprehensive alternatives. We look forward to the Trump Administration fighting back against this lawfare and restoring the pro-life victory secured through this bill.”
While Planned Parenthood claims the new law could force the closure of nearly 200 of its 600 locations, the group could continue to receive government funding if it simply stopped performing abortions.
This latest ruling out of Massachusetts comes amid growing concern about state-level hostility toward the pro-life movement. In June 2024, the Healey-Driscoll Administration launched a $1 million public campaign targeting Pregnancy Resource Centers across the Commonwealth. The state-funded initiative seeks to discredit PRCs—many of which provide free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, counseling, and material assistance to women in need—while continuing to channel government dollars to abortion providers.