NJ Attorney General sues Trump administration over Medicaid ban on Planned Parenthood
TRENTON — New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined a coalition of 21 states in filing a federal lawsuit to block a provision in President Trump’s sweeping budget law that cuts off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide.
The legal action, announced Tuesday, targets the so-called “Defund Provision” included in the recently enacted “Big Beautiful Bill,” which eliminates federal Medicaid reimbursements for services like cancer screenings, birth control, STI testing, and wellness exams provided at Planned Parenthood clinics.
Platkin and other state attorneys general argue that the provision is unconstitutional and threatens health care access for millions of low-income residents, including tens of thousands in New Jersey who receive care through NJ FamilyCare, the state’s Medicaid-funded health program.
“It’s frankly outrageous that Congress and the Trump Administration have targeted essential reproductive health care services for millions of women,” said Platkin.
Governor Phil Murphy also condemned the policy, saying it strips vital care from vulnerable communities.
The lawsuit follows a ruling by a U.S. District Court granting Planned Parenthood a preliminary injunction against the defunding measure, citing violations of the First Amendment, the Equal Protection Clause, and the U.S. Constitution’s ban on Bills of Attainder.
The multistate suit further argues the provision is impermissibly vague and exceeds Congress’s authority under the Spending Clause, warning of increased public health risks and higher long-term costs to Medicaid programs.
New Jersey joins 20 states and the District of Columbia, along with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, in seeking to halt implementation of the provision.
