A federal judge in Massachusetts has issued a temporary restraining order blocking a key provision in President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” that would cut federal Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood for one year.
Judge Indira Talwani’s ruling prevents the Trump administration from enforcing or retroactively applying that defunding measure to Planned Parenthood nationwide. The order requires the Department of Health and Human Services to continue Medicaid disbursements “in the customary manner” to Planned Parenthood’s national and affiliate clinics, including those in Massachusetts and Utah. The injunction will remain in effect for 14 days while the lawsuit progresses.
Planned Parenthood launched the legal challenge promptly after the measure’s inclusion in the budget package, arguing it constitutes unconstitutional retaliation targeting abortion providers. The provision, though not mentioning Planned Parenthood by name, was widely understood and intended to impact its operations .
Plaintiffs outlined serious consequences: over one million Medicaid patients could lose access to reproductive and preventive care services—including birth control, STI and cancer screenings—if the defunding measure took effect. Local affiliates in Massachusetts and Utah voiced concern for low-income and rural communities most at risk.
Supporters of the bill highlight that Medicaid already prohibits abortion coverage except under limited circumstances, emphasizing that the defunding measure targets other family planning services. Backers consider it an appropriate use of Congress’s spending authority .
Legal observers note this injunction may shape the outcome for other providers, though the order explicitly applies only to the named Planned Parenthood entities. The administration still holds authority to enforce the provision against other organizations—but given Planned Parenthood’s overwhelming representation among impacted clinics, the injunction could have broad practical influence .
The ruling follows a recent 6–3 U.S. Supreme Court decision that affirmed states’ ability to exclude Planned Parenthood from Medicaid for non-abortion services—a precedent aligned with this federal defunding effort. Republican lawmakers view both judicial steps as victories supporting state and federal discretion in targeting abortion-affiliated providers.
As litigation continues, the court will further weigh constitutional protections concerning equal treatment under federal spending clauses and potential infringement on healthcare access. The outcome may determine whether a one-year defunding of Planned Parenthood becomes law or remains blocked, with significant implications for federal health policy and Medicaid coverage across the U.S.
