A conservative watchdog nonprofit, Advancing American Freedom, led by former Vice President Mike Pence, has called on Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Trump, to eliminate what they deem as 'wasteful' federal spending on Planned Parenthood.
In a letter addressed to Musk, Tim Chapman, the president of Advancing American Freedom, emphasized the need to defund the largest abortion provider in the United States. The organization received approximately $75 billion in federal funding between 2019 and 2021, with a significant portion coming from Health and Human Services grants and public health programs.
According to a report from the Government Accountability Office, Planned Parenthood Federation of America affiliates received $148 million in HHS grants and $1.5 billion in Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP payments during the specified period. Taxpayer dollars accounted for 34% of Planned Parenthood's funding, as highlighted in a recent report by the Charlotte Lozier Institute.
The letter to Musk commended his efforts in eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in federal spending and suggested that defunding Planned Parenthood could be a pivotal moment for both Musk and President Trump. The Trump administration recently took steps to restrict abortion funding by reinstating the Mexico City Policy and enforcing the Hyde Amendment to prevent federal funds from being used for elective abortions.
Conversely, the Biden-Harris administration has increased support for Planned Parenthood following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Planned Parenthood's 2022-2023 report revealed that the organization received $700 million in federal funds in a year, coinciding with a surge in abortion services and a decline in other major services.
Source has reached out to the White House, DOGE, and Planned Parenthood for comments on the matter.
