Nj sues trump over law cutting medicaid from planned parenthood

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.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.