Federal judge blocks HHS changes to teen pregnancy prevention program

A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from implementing new requirements for the Teenage Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program. The ruling follows legal challenges from Hennepin County and other plaintiffs, including Democracy Forward and Planned Parenthood, who argued against the administration's attempt to mandate abstinence-only curricula and restrict discussions on “gender ideology” and diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.

The administration had previously moved to cut $67 million from the program, which provides $101 million in annual grant funding to organizations working to reduce sexual risk behavior and unintended pregnancies. While the injunction halts the new restrictive requirements, it did not restore over $500,000 in previously canceled funds.

The judge noted that the administration cannot impose conditions on grant recipients that are “unreasonable or unexplained” or that Congress did not intend. Additionally, the ruling criticized the administration's justifications, suggesting that HHS appeared to reference public health studies that were either non-existent or unsupported by evidence.