Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Last week, ahead of the 60th anniversary of the landmark Griswold v. Connecticut decision affirming the constitutional right to contraception, U.S. Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Judy Chu (CA-27), and Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) demanded the Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to immediately restore funding for the Title X Family Planning Program. 

Title X is the only federal program solely dedicated to family planning. Despite Congressional approval, the Trump Administration is withholding funding from 16 grantees across 23 states under vague investigations into “possible violations.” Grantees have received no updates or timeline, forcing health centers to slash staff, reduce services, and in some cases close entirely.

This funding freeze is a part of the Trump Administration’s larger attacks on reproductive freedom, including rescinding Biden-era guidance for emergency abortions this week. Title X is essential for preventing unwanted pregnancies and ensuring access to care for all.

“We must not turn a blind eye to the broader mounting threats to our reproductive freedoms. Both contraception and abortion are essential health care services and part of a full range of sexual and reproductive health care that allow every American the freedom to make decisions about our own bodies and their own futures. The overturning of Roe v. Wade dealt a direct blow to people’s privacy rights, access to health care, including imperiling access to contraception. In a world where access to abortion is severely limited or not accessible at all, it is even more important for people who want to prevent pregnancy to be able to affordably and easily access it from trusted family planning providers of their choice,” the Members wrote in a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy, Jr. 

The Members continued, “That is why Title X is so important. Title X has historically received broad bipartisan support and has been funded by Congress every year since 1970 because we recognize what Griswold holds true: that all individuals should have the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies and lives.”

“60 years ago the right to birth control was established in Griswold v Connecticut, but today the attacks to take away our reproductive rights are relentless. President Trump’s decision to withhold Title X funding shows he’s so determined to shutter Planned Parenthood health centers that he’s willing to harm millions of people and deny many their only source of health care to do it. In the more than 50 years since this bipartisan, popular program has been in effect, Title X funding has played a critical role in allowing patients to access vital services and has helped Planned Parenthood health centers provide critical care like birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment. This, along with Trump and Congressional Republicans’ efforts to ‘defund’ Planned Parenthood, reveals a dangerous and unacceptable agenda that will leave millions at risk of losing health care and nearly 200 health centers at risk of closing. This funding must be released so that patients can get the life-saving and affordable care they need,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

“Withholding Title X funds from trusted providers — without transparency or resolution — is not just unjustified; it’s a direct threat to essential health care for millions,” said Clare Coleman, President & CEO of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association. “More than 60 days after this reckless and unlawful HHS action affecting Title X-funded care in 23 states, we are seeing health center closures, staff layoffs, and reduced services — all of which will lead directly to worsening health outcomes. While the right to contraception guaranteed to Americans under Griswold has never been more precarious, the facts stand: everyone deserves the freedom to make their own choices about their lives and health, without political interference.”

Full text of the letter sent to Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. can be found here and below:

Dear Secretary Kennedy, 

On the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Griswold v. Connecticut, we write to express our unwavering support for the Title X Family Planning Program (Title X), the only domestic federally-funded program dedicated to family planning. For 60 years, the constitutional right to contraception has been protected by Griswold v. Connecticut, empowering millions with the ability to make their own reproductive health care decisions. However, due to the actions of this Administration, reproductive freedom is under threat. The Administration’s decision to withhold millions in funding for Title X means low income individuals have lost access to contraceptive services and supplies. On this landmark anniversary of Griswold, it is extremely important to protect Title X and reiterate why it has and should continue to serve as the cornerstone of safety-net care for millions of people.

Title X provides access to contraception to help people avoid pregnancies they do not want, and to plan and space pregnancies they do want, decreasing the risk of complications.  This is even more critical for patients who face financial barriers to health care. Title X plays an instrumental role in ensuring patients get the care they need and want without cost being a barrier. In 2023, 83% of clients served by Title X-funded clinics had family incomes at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, with 60% qualifying for free services because they had incomes at or below 100% of the federal poverty level ($30,000 for a family of four). Among all Title X clients, 27% were uninsured, while 67% of users with some form of health insurance had public insurance coverage.  It is no wonder that 60% of women who receive reproductive health care services from Title X providers say it is the only form of health care they receive in a year. The Title X program supports a network of approximately 4,000 clinics across the country.  Without Title X funding, many of these clinics could shutter, ripping access to contraception away from millions.

As we reflect on the significance of Griswold, we must not turn a blind eye to the broader mounting threats to our reproductive freedoms. Both contraception and abortion are essential health care services and part of a full range of sexual and reproductive health care that allow every American the freedom to make decisions about our own bodies and their own futures. The overturning of Roe v. Wade dealt a direct blow to people’s privacy rights, access to health care, including imperiling access to contraception. In a world where access to abortion is severely limited or not accessible at all, it is even more important for people who want to prevent pregnancy to be able to affordably and easily access it from trusted family planning providers of their choice That is why Title X is so important. Title X has historically received broad bipartisan support and has been funded by Congress every year since 1970 because we recognize what Griswold holds true: that all individuals should have the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies and lives.

On March 31, 2025, your Department notified 16 Title X grantees — representing networks of health care providers in 23 states — that their funding was being withheld until an investigation over ‘possible violations’ of grant terms and conditions, specifically federal civil rights laws and executive orders, could be undertaken.  More than two months later, these grantees remain without funding and have received no communication from the Administration regarding the status of the investigations, the expected timeline, or the future of their funding. In that time, several of these entities have been forced to furlough or layoff staff, limit available services or charge for services that were previously available to low-income individuals at low or no cost, and shutter health centers. Congress has already appropriated these funds, and the Administration has a responsibility to distribute them without undue delay or obstruction, ensuring that critical care is not disrupted for millions of people who rely on Title X services.

We urge you to restore all appropriated funding for Title X providers and work with Congress to ensure that all people have access to the comprehensive contraception services they seek.

Sincerely,

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

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