Washington Has a $2.3 Billion Shortfall, Gov. Bob Ferguson is Giving Planned Parenthood $8.5 Million

As Washington state grapples with a projected $2.3 billion budget shortfall in its current operating budget through mid-2027, Gov. Bob Ferguson thinks it’s a great time to send millions to America’s biggest abortion company.

Ferguson, a Democrat, has proposed restoring $8.5 million to the Abortion Access Project — a program that directs funds primarily to Planned Parenthood and other abortion businesses — even while proposing $800 million in spending cuts elsewhere.

While spending Money to kill babies, Ferguson is pushing to cap access to a coveted child care program.

Changes in child care programming account for nearly 40% of the reductions, advocates say.

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Ferguson wants to close enrollment to the Working Connections Child Care program that provides lower-income families with subsidies to pay for care. There were 44,333 enrolled as of last February, with an active caseload of 33,465 as of November 2024, the Department of Children, Youth and Families reported in the summer.

The governor wants to halt new sign-ups until the caseload drops to 33,000. It is estimated that this will save $217 million.

He also wants to freeze the level of state funding to child care centers, rather than proceed with a previously approved increase. That is a $41 million cut for providers.

“Child care should never be a discretionary line item as it is the work that makes all the other work possible,” said Alex Galeana, executive director of the Children’s Campaign Fund. “Please reject these reductions and stand by children and families.”

The pro-abortion program was cut last year amid a budget crunch. The Abortion Access Project, which supports five companies that kill 80% of the babies who die in abortions in the state in 2022 and operates in 20 of Washington’s 39 counties, saw a $8.5 million cut — described as a 55% reduction — in the previous biennial budget enacted in 2025.

Planned Parenthood is the largest recipient of funds from the program.

Nicole Kern, government relations manager for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, warned of the consequences of not restoring the funding: basically that abortion customers would have to pay more for their own abortions.

The proposed restoration of the $8.5 million is a top priority for abortion advocates, who view it as essential to continue killing babies amid federal cuts to Planned Parenthood.

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