U.S. Senators, led by Mazie K. Hirono, Brian Schatz, Tina Smith, and Adam Schiff, have called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to restore the Title X family planning funding in 23 states. This push comes after the administration froze nearly $35 million in grants supporting basic health care services for around one million people.
In a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the senators stated, "We are alarmed at the Trump administration’s attacks against providers that enable access to health care for low-income and uninsured people.” They further urged the swift reinstatement of funding to prevent service gaps for vulnerable communities dependent on Title X-financed health centers.
Title X has served as the nation’s main federal funding source for family planning, supporting health services for 2.8 million people in 2023 across nearly 4,000 clinics nationally. The freeze began on April 1, severely impacting funding in 23 states and encompassing almost a quarter of the Title X network.
The senators emphasized, "These interruptions will be widely felt in our communities and exacerbate the country’s maternal health crisis." Withholding funds endangers access to essential services, potentially causing health centers in underserved locations to close.
The letter highlights states such as California, Hawaii, and others have had funding entirely cut, while several other states face reduced access to Title X-funded services. This affects not only healthcare delivery but also the livelihood of working families.
In addition to Hirono, Schatz, Smith, and Schiff, leaders such as Chuck Schumer and several Democratic senators have co-signed this appeal.
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