Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, the largest affiliate of the organization in the United States, has been forced to close five of its clinics in Northern California. The closures are a direct result of President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," which has led to a significant reduction in Medicaid funding available to the organization. The affected clinics, situated in the Bay Area communities of San Francisco, San Mateo, Gilroy, Santa Cruz, and Madera, ceased operations amid warnings from Planned Parenthood leaders of an existential crisis prompted by the new federal policy.
Stacy Cross, the President and CEO of the Mar Monte affiliate, has been at the forefront of Planned Parenthood for over two decades. She described the current climate as the most challenging she has faced in her 24-year career with the organization. "We really feel like we are in the fight of our life," Cross said, highlighting the financial pressure from the loss of Medicaid reimbursements. The legislation's impact is far-reaching, with more than 60 Planned Parenthood employees laid off according to reports from the Daily Wire.
The "Big Beautiful Bill," signed into law on July 4, enacts a one-year ban on Medicaid reimbursement for abortion providers that received $800,000 or more in such funds. Planned Parenthood's Medicaid reimbursements in 2015 were approximately $390 million. While federal law already restricts Medicaid funds from being used for most abortion services, the new bill extends those restrictions to other healthcare services provided by Planned Parenthood.
In response to the bill's passage, Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, which initially led to a temporary restraining order halting the Medicaid ban. However, this order expired, and the Obama-appointed judge issued a narrower preliminary injunction allowing only 10 specific Planned Parenthood facilities to continue receiving Medicaid payments.
Beyond California, Planned Parenthood's presence has been diminishing nationwide, with additional closures in Manhattan, Minnesota, Illinois, Texas, and Utah—totaling at least 13 other shutdowns. Despite criticism that the bill targets abortion providers and restricts reproductive healthcare access, the White House defended the legislation as a measure to preserve Medicaid for the most vulnerable groups, including low-income families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities.
The administration also highlighted the bill's provisions that enforce work requirements and remove illegal immigrants from Medicaid eligibility, arguing that these reforms protect resources for lawful and needy recipients. As President Trump's administration continues to champion the bill as a significant reform, opponents view it as a detrimental attack on women's health services.
As the legal and political battle around the bill progresses, more Planned Parenthood facilities risk closure if the injunction is not expanded. The outcome of these court fights could reshape Medicaid's role in funding women's health services across the country. Meanwhile, communities impacted by the clinic closures are facing a notable reduction in healthcare options, with potential long-term consequences.
