WASHINGTON - Family planning organizations were outraged on Tuesday when President Donald Trump's administration formally unveiled a new rule that would block federal Title X Funds from going to clinics that perform abortions or make abortion referrals.
The Title X federal family planning program provides more $280 million each year nationwide for medical exams, contraceptive services, and cancer and sexually transmitted disease screenings. Roughly four million low income men and women are served through the program each year. The new rule is aimed at providers like Planned Parenthood whose services include abortions.
In Ohio, 87 health facilities got nearly $8.7 million in Title X funds last year, according to statistics compiled by the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association. More than 20 of those Ohio facilities are run by Planned Parenthood, HHS data indicates.
"For decades, American taxpayers have been wrongfully forced to subsidize the abortion industry through Title X federal funding," Trump declared at a Tuesday night gala hosted by the Susan B. Anthony List anti-abortion group. "So today, we have kept another promise."
Standing ovation as @POTUS Donald Trump announces the new #ProtectLife rule to prohibit Title X funding going to any org that performs or promotes abortion at #SBAgala pic.twitter.com/KpJk4NsxLm
-- Susan B Anthony List (@SBAList) May 23, 2018
Organizations that support abortion rights described the proposal as a "gag rule" that would make it illegal for doctors, nurses, hospitals, and community health centers across the country that participate in the Title X program to refer patients for safe, legal abortions.
It is similar to a policy established by the Reagan administration that required organizations to keep their abortion facilities physically separate from their facilities that get federal family planning dollars. Legal appeals delayed that policy's implementation for years, and President Clinton ended it upon taking office. Lawsuits to block the new policy are also likely.
ATTENTION OHIO: Stand with Planned Parenthood to STOP the Gag rule and protect Title X on Wednesday May 30th 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Location is tentative at the Ohio Statehouse for a Rally & Press Conference! #NoGagRule #ProtectOurCare #IStandWithPP pic.twitter.com/icdtIOE8GP
-- Ohio Women's March (@OhioWomensMarch) May 19, 2018
Anti-abortion organizations like the Susan B. Anthony List applauded the policy's reinstatement. The group's president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, said it would redirect tax dollars to "centers that do not promote or perform abortions - such as the growing number of community and rural health centers that far outnumber Planned Parenthood facilities - without reducing family planning funding by a dime."
"Taxpayers should not be forced to fund the staff salaries, rent, and utilities of abortion facilities, as has been the case in the past with Title X," said a statement from Ohio Right to Life president Mike Gonidakis. He said his group "is encouraged that family planning dollars will finally go to the facilities that deserve them: clinics that provide real health care for women and their babies."
.@realdonaldtrump wants to gag your doctor to control you and your health care. #NoGagRule -
https://t.co/INnJVbtTER pic.twitter.com/kW1G4Qhw0o
-- Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) May 22, 2018
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio called Trump's Title X change "a reckless attack" on "millions of people who rely on affordable reproductive health care."
"This rule prohibits doctors from telling patients where and how they can access safe, legal abortion," said a statement from Planned Parenthood Federation of America executive vice president Dawn Laguens. "That's the definition of a gag rule. Everyone has the right to full information about their health care -- including full information about safe, legal abortion. And every woman deserves the best medical care and information, no matter how much money she makes or where she lives. No matter what. They won't get it under this rule."
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