ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL SECURES PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION BLOCKING PROVISION THAT CUTS OFF MEDICAID FUNDING FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL SECURES PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION BLOCKING PROVISION THAT CUTS OFF MEDICAID FUNDING FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD

December 02, 2025

Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul secured a preliminary injunction in an ongoing lawsuit to block the Trump administration from enforcing the "Defund Provision" in the recently enacted federal budget reconciliation law. The Defund Provision was designed to exclude Planned Parenthood facilities and other health centers that provide abortions from receiving federal Medicaid reimbursements for other essential health care services like cancer screenings, testing for and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), birth control, and other critical medical services. Because long-standing federal law already prohibits federal dollars from being used to cover abortion care, the Defund Provision is intended to completely prevent these reproductive health clinics from receiving Medicaid dollars for providing any essential health care services to low-income patients.

In July, Raoul joined a coalition of 22 states in filing a lawsuit challenging the provision.

"Planned Parenthood facilities play a key role in our nation's health and wellness by providing comprehensive care to more than 1 million Americans," Raoul said. "The Defund Provision is a cruel and unconstitutional attempt to create confusion and attack abortion providers while burdening states' agencies and health care systems. I'm pleased with the court's ruling, and I will continue advocating for vital federal funding that ensures every person in Illinois has access to the health care services they need."

The injunction, issued by Judge Indira Talwani from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, orders the Trump administration to not enforce the Defund Provision and requires the administration to ensure that Medicaid continues to be distributed as usual. Judge Talwani placed a seven-day administrative stay on the injunction to allow the administration an opportunity to appeal.

The lawsuit is the latest action Attorney General Raoul has taken to protect access to reproductive care. In Illinois, he has initiated or supported legislative proposals to preserve Illinois as a reproductive health care oasis, issued guidance to inform Illinois residents of their rights, and provided law enforcement with clarification that abortion is not criminalized in the state. More broadly, Raoul often joins other state attorneys general to oppose draconian abortion regulations federally and in other states. For instance, Attorney General Raoul has urged the American Medical Association to protect health care providers from risky in-person medical board certification requirements. Recently, Raoul called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remove burdensome restrictions on mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medication abortions, which followed a 2023 lawsuit Raoul filed to preserve access to mifepristone for patients in Illinois. In 2024, Raoul, as part of a coalition of 24 attorneys general, filed a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court to protect access to medication abortion nationwide. The court's ruling ultimately preserved access to medication abortion.

Raoul's office has also encouraged individuals to protect their privacy when seeking reproductive care. In 2022, Raoul's office issued guidance to help individuals seeking care protect their privacy while using apps and online platforms. Additionally, Raoul advocated for stronger federal protections for patients' reproductive health information and called on Apple to take practical steps to protect consumers' private reproductive health information.

Throughout his time in office, he has also defended Title X, the only federal grant program that funds family planning and counseling programs to help patients access contraception, as well as breast and cervical cancer screenings, screenings and treatments for sexually transmitted infections, and other related health services.

Attorney General Raoul was joined in filing the lawsuit by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin, as well as the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.