Power to Decide Statement on Devastating Cuts to Title X Family Planning Program Grantees

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notified many grantees of the Title X Family Planning Program that their funding is being withheld, citing a variety of reasons including investigating compliance with executive orders prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion. However, applications for Title X grants were submitted during the previous administration when health equity was a priority. If the funding cuts remain, roughly 20 states will have all or some of their federal family planning funds cut.

In response, Power to Decide CEO and practicing OB-GYN, Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, released the following statement:  

“As an OB-GYN and a provider who has worked in Title X-funded clinics throughout my career, I know that affordable access to family planning care is essential for the well-being of my patients, their families and their communities. These cuts will have a devastating impact on an already underfunded program that is crucial to keeping clinic doors open and ensuring that people can get the care they need no matter who they are, where they live or how much money they make.

“For more than fifty years, Title X has funded clinics to provide basic, preventive reproductive health care, including birth control, cancer screenings, wellness exams and STI testing and treatment to millions of people struggling to make ends meet in communities across the country. In doing so, the program has helped to address the deep inequities in access to contraception that exist in our country.

“Roughly 19 million women in need of publicly funded family planning live in contraceptive deserts – counties where they lack reasonable access to a clinic offering the full range of contraceptive methods. These destructive cuts will only increase the number of people lacking access to contraception and deepen inequity.

“It is unconscionable to paint this as anything other than what it is – a deep cut in funding for birth control that will cause widespread harm. As we continue to face a reproductive health care crisis exacerbated by abortion bans, this is another deeply disturbing move from this administration. Power to Decide remains committed to helping people learn about and access the contraception they need, and we urge this administration to stop its attacks on access to reproductive health care.”

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Power to Decide is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to advance sexual and reproductive well-being for all by providing trusted information, expanding access to quality services, and catalyzing culture change.