Illinois is the latest state to forgo federal family-planning funds under the Trump administration’s new Protect Life Rule.
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday the state would not abide by the new rule and instead would use state money to fund the 28 organizations that received the federal funds distributed through the Illinois Department of Public Health. About $2.4 million in annual funding was at issue.
“Under my administration, Illinois will always stand with women and protect their fundamental right to choose,” Pritzker said.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the Protect Life Rule in February, prohibiting federal Title X money from going to clinics that “perform, promote, refer for, or support abortion as a method of family planning.” Title X is a $300 million federal family-planning program.
Another part of the rule will go into effect next year requiring Title X recipients to financially and physically separate their abortion services from their non-abortion services.
Critics like Pritzker call it the “gag rule” because it prevents family planning clinics from discussing abortion with patients. Two federal courts ruled the Trump administration can enforce the rule while lawsuits against it proceed.
“While I’m committed to bringing as many federal dollars to the state as possible, I refuse to…
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