23 states sue to block federal cuts to Title X family planning funds

A coalition of 23 states, led by Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland to block new federal policies regarding Title X funding. The lawsuit challenges new conditions imposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that threaten to strip federal family planning funds from states and providers.

The plaintiffs argue that the new requirements are unlawful and discriminatory, as they penalize states and providers that refuse to abandon nondiscrimination initiatives or align their programs with specific political priorities. These priorities include the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Title X is the sole federal grant program dedicated to family planning and preventive health services, providing millions of low-income Americans with access to contraception, cancer screenings, and sexually transmitted infection testing. Attorney General Jennings characterized the administration's actions as “extortion,” stating the policy attempts to force states to abandon protections for LGBTQ+ citizens.