California Commits $140 Million to Planned Parenthood Amid Federal Funding Cuts
In a bold move reflecting California’s stance as a “reproductive freedom state,” Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a $140 million allocation to keep 109 Planned Parenthood clinics operational across the state. This significant financial commitment comes in direct response to federal funding cuts imposed by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans. The governor’s decision represents California’s determination to preserve women’s access to reproductive and basic healthcare services at a time when Planned Parenthood facilities nationwide face increasing financial strain. “California is a reproductive freedom state, and this latest investment continues to show our belief in protecting access to essential health care in times of distress,” Newsom stated Thursday, adding that “Trump’s efforts to defund Planned Parenthood put all our communities at risk as people seek basic health care from these community providers.”
The impact of federal funding cuts has already been felt across California’s Planned Parenthood network. The organization had announced plans to eliminate primary care services at clinics in Orange and San Bernardino counties beginning in December, while five other facilities in the Bay Area, Santa Cruz, and Central Valley have already closed their doors in recent months. Dr. Janet Jacobson, medical director of the Orange and San Bernardino counties clinics, expressed frustration at the situation, calling it “inhumane to take away people’s health care” and asserting that “folks that have Medi-Cal should be able to see the provider of their choice for primary care.” The financial challenge is substantial – Planned Parenthood requires approximately $27 million monthly to maintain operations across all its California locations, according to Jodi Hicks, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.
California joins Washington, Colorado, and New Mexico as the fourth state to direct public funds toward supporting Planned Parenthood in the wake of federal defunding efforts. Oregon and New York are reportedly considering similar measures. The funding crisis intensified when President Trump signed a spending bill over the summer that specifically prohibited Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid money for its range of services, including not just abortions but also mammograms, pap smears, birth control, and sexually transmitted infection testing. This federal action, combined with abortion restrictions in Republican-led states following the Supreme Court’s 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade, has created widespread challenges for the organization’s continued operation in many parts of the country.
The funding crisis has forced Planned Parenthood to make difficult decisions about its services and locations. Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, which manages 30 health centers along California’s coast, Central Valley, and in Nevada, closed five facilities in July directly due to the federal funding blockade. Andrew Adams, Mar Monte’s Chief of Staff, noted that while these closures helped maintain services at other clinics through the end of the year, the organization faces a potential “financial cliff” in 2025. “We are planning for an environment where there is no federal funding,” Adams explained. “What that looks like is having to potentially charge patients some amount of money for services we provide.” The situation highlights the broader national debate about Planned Parenthood’s role and services.
The organization has long maintained that abortions constitute only 3% of its services, a claim disputed by pro-life advocacy groups. These groups point to clinic closures in states with abortion bans as evidence contradicting Planned Parenthood’s characterization of its service portfolio. Shawn Carney, CEO and founder of 40 Days for Life, stated, “If that were true, they wouldn’t be closing all these facilities in pro-life states where you can’t do abortions. So that’s hardly believable anymore in 2025.” This ongoing disagreement underscores the deeply divisive nature of the debate surrounding Planned Parenthood’s funding and operations across the United States.
Finding sustainable solutions to maintain Planned Parenthood’s services in California has been a priority for Governor Newsom, state lawmakers, and the organization throughout the year. However, the task has been complicated by California’s multibillion-dollar state deficit. Despite these financial challenges, the state’s leadership has demonstrated its commitment to preserving access to reproductive healthcare services by allocating substantial funds to keep these clinics operational. State lawmakers will continue addressing this issue when the legislature reconvenes in January, potentially seeking more permanent solutions to the funding challenges faced by Planned Parenthood in California. This situation illustrates the growing divide between state and federal approaches to reproductive healthcare policy in America.
