Federal funding for Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, may face significant cuts under a proposal led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy through the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Wednesday, Musk and Ramaswamy outlined their vision for tackling federal overspending and restoring accountability to elected officials rather than unelected bureaucrats.
A central component of their strategy includes eliminating taxpayer funding for “progressive groups like Planned Parenthood,” which they argue represents wasteful and misaligned federal spending.
According to Planned Parenthood’s 2023 annual report, the organization received $699.3 million in taxpayer funds through government grants, contracts, and Medicaid reimbursements—accounting for 34% of its overall revenue. This marks a 43% increase in taxpayer funding since 2010, as highlighted by the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute.
Meanwhile, private contributions to Planned Parenthood reached $997.5 million, a 44% increase from the previous year, bringing its total revenue to nearly $2.1 billion with over $2.5 billion in net assets.
The report also revealed that Planned Parenthood performed 392,716 abortions in 2021-2022, a 5% increase from the previous year and a 20% increase over the past decade. While abortion services grew, the organization saw a 17% decline in total services.
Proponents of defunding Planned Parenthood argue that federal dollars should not support an organization that prioritizes abortion over healthcare services. The move aligns with broader conservative efforts to redirect taxpayer funds away from controversial programs and toward policies that reflect the values of the American public.
Musk and Ramaswamy’s proposal signals a renewed focus on reducing government waste while curbing the influence of powerful, taxpayer-funded organizations in shaping public policy.
