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President Donald Trump’s administration informed Planned Parenthood affiliates on Monday that it was withholding millions of dollars in federal funding due to potential civil rights law violations, according to reports.
Politico reported that locations in at least nine state affiliates received notices on Monday announcing a temporary hold on Title X funding, a family planning program.
Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon said the agency is withholding payments to 16 Title X providers, including the nine Planned Parenthood affiliates, “to ensure these entities are in full compliance with Federal law and applicable grant terms, and to ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”
Under the review, a total of $27.5 million from Title X’s $200 million budget was reportedly frozen.
Planned Parenthood has 10 days to respond to the letter and submit proof of its intent to comply with the president’s executive orders. After reviewing the response, the administration will decide whether to suspend or terminate the grants.
The move comes after reports last week that the Trump administration could end $120 million in funding to Planned Parenthood as part of its efforts to end diversity, equity and inclusion spending by the federal government.
On Tuesday, Trump said he may instruct the Justice Department to pursue criminal charges against Planned Parenthood officials over allegations of trafficking in aborted fetal tissue.
“I think you are talking about a subject that’s been a heated subject, and we’ll look into it,” Trump told reporters when asked about the Planned Parenthood allegations. “We’ll look into everything, but that’s certainly a subject that’s been debated for a long time, and we will look into it.”
Trump has continued to support pro-life efforts during his second term, including through a video message to participants at the January March for Life in Washington, D.C. Vice President JD Vance spoke at the event to strong support.
“Let me say very simply: I want more babies in the United States of America,” Vance said to the audience.
“I want more happy children in our country. And I want beautiful young men and women who are eager to welcome them into the world and eager to raise them. And it is the task of our government to make it easier for young moms and dads to afford to have kids, to bring them into the world, and to welcome them as the blessings that we know they are here at the March for Life,” he added.