California Sues Trump Administration For Family Planning ‘Gag Rule’
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Monday filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging its controversial new rule that could pull federal funding from Planned Parenthood and other family planning clinics, making California the first of many states expected to take legal action.
The new Title X rule, which has been dubbed the “gag rule” by critics, bars family planning clinics that receive federal funding from referring patients for abortions.
It also requires family planning clinics receiving federal funds to be in a separate location and maintain separate finances from clinics that provide abortions.
“This illegal Title X rule denies patients access to critical healthcare services and prevents doctors from providing comprehensive and accurate information about medical care,” Becerra said in a statement.
Becerra will argue that the new rule will interfere with the practice of medicine and force providers out of business because of financial strain. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum also announced Monday that she would lead 19 other states and the District of Columbia in a similar but separate lawsuit that is expected to be filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Eugene, Oregon.
The lawsuits seek an injunction to prevent the rule from going into effect.
Title X is a government family planning program that serves some 4 million people, most of them female, low-income and young.
