Washington D.C., Aug 16, 2019 / 09:15 am
Planned Parenthood, the country's largest provider of abortion services, has announced that it will withdraw from the federal Title X family planning program, ending its access to millions of dollars in government funding.
The decision is set to take effect Aug. 19, the date by which funding recipients are required to make a "good faith" undertaking to comply with a new rule barring the referral of clients for abortion services.
After it was announced in final form in February, the Protect Life Rule was subject to court challenges from abortion providers and several states. In June, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the rule could come into force. In July, judges refused to issue a stay against that decision.
Planned Parenthood informed the court on Wednesday that, unless the reversed its refusal to grant a stay, it would leave the Title X program on Monday.