Senate Republicans Take Up Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood

Senate Republicans are set to debate a sweeping legislative package that includes provisions to defund Planned Parenthood, following a narrow House victory on May 22, 2025, for President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

The abortion giant just announced that it killed over 420,000 babies in abortions in its most recent year and made over $2 billion.

The Hyde Amendment already prohibits federal funds from directly paying for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the mother’s life. However, Planned Parenthood receives approximately $700 million annually through Medicaid reimbursements and Title X grants. Pro-life leaders argue this funding frees up resources for Planned Parenthood’s abortion operations.

The bill, which passed the House 215-214, aims to strip federal funding from the nation’s largest abortion company, a move pro-life advocates hail as a critical step toward protecting unborn lives.

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The House-passed bill, now under Senate consideration, includes language to prohibit Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funds, including Medicaid payments, redirecting those resources to community health centers that do not kill babies.

Pro-life groups argue that Planned Parenthood, which killed over 420,000 babies in its most recent reported year, should not receive taxpayer support. The organization received nearly $700 million in federal funding in its 2022-2023 fiscal year, according to its annual report.

“Defunding Planned Parenthood is a non-negotiable priority for pro-life Americans,” said Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., who has led efforts to ensure the provision remains in the final bill. “Taxpayer dollars should not subsidize an organization that profits from ending unborn lives. Community health centers can provide comprehensive care without abortion.”

The Senate, led by Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., faces pressure to maintain the defunding measure as it reviews the broader reconciliation bill, which also extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, boosts border security funding, and reforms Medicaid. Thune has expressed a goal of delivering the bill to Trump’s desk by July 4, but some Senate Republicans are pushing for changes, including deeper spending cuts and modifications to Medicaid reforms.

Pro-life advocates, energized by the House vote, are urging senators to hold firm on keeping the defunding provisions.

However, the bill faces challenges in the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim 53-seat majority, allowing only three defections with Vice President JD Vance’s tie-breaking vote. Some senators, including Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., have raised concerns about other unrelated provisions.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., a fiscal hawk, has vowed to push for deeper spending reductions, potentially complicating negotiations.

Despite these hurdles, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who secured the bill’s passage after intense negotiations with conservative holdouts, remains optimistic.

“This is a generational opportunity to enact President Trump’s America First agenda, including protecting life,” he said after the House vote.

Pro-life leaders are rallying supporters to pressure senators.

“Planned Parenthood’s billion-dollar abortion business must not receive another dime of taxpayer money,” said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., a longtime advocate for defunding the abortion giant.

The Senate’s timeline is tight, with debates expected to intensify next week. If the Senate alters the bill, it will return to the House, where Speaker Johnson can afford few defections. Pro-life advocates remain hopeful but vigilant, emphasizing that 2025, with Republican control of Congress and the White House, offers a rare chance to advance their cause.

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