Gov Shapiro sues Trump administration over ‘lifesaving reproductive care’ in escalating abortion battle
Democrat Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro joined a multistate lawsuit against the Trump administration Thursday challenging new conditions on federal family planning grants, including requirements aimed at ensuring taxpayer resources do not support elective abortion and promoting "life-affirming" services.
Shapiro announced the lawsuit by accusing the Trump administration of making it harder for low-income Pennsylvanians to access what he called "lifesaving reproductive care and family planning services," specifically pointing to cancer screenings and testing for sexually transmitted infections.
But the 63-page complaint also challenges abortion-related provisions in the Trump administration's new requirements for Title X grants, including a directive that recipients "maintain strict separation from prohibited activities" and contribute to broader U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) efforts to "safeguard life-affirming, lawful, and ethical program delivery."
Live Action blasted Shapiro's characterization in a statement to Fox News Digital, accusing him of fighting to keep taxpayer dollars flowing to Planned Parenthood.
"Governor Shapiro is calling Planned Parenthood’s services ‘lifesaving care’ while fighting to keep taxpayer dollars flowing to the nation’s largest abortion chain," Noah Brandt, vice president of communications and government affairs at Live Action, said. "There is nothing lifesaving about abortion."
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Brandt said women deserve access to cancer screenings, prenatal care and other medical services, but argued that does not require taxpayers to subsidize Planned Parenthood.
"Governor Shapiro should stop hiding the abortion industry behind euphemisms and be honest about what he is defending: the killing of our youngest children," Brandt added.
Title X funding is already prohibited from being used for abortion. Shapiro's lawsuit challenges the Trump administration's additional conditions aimed at "life-affirming" program delivery.
The administration's new funding terms state that HHS will prioritize programs that uphold federal abortion-funding protections and "do not use taxpayer resources to promote or support elective abortion."
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Recipients are also expected to maintain "strict separation" from prohibited activities, according to language reproduced in the lawsuit.
The states argue the rules could cost providers Title X funding even when abortions are performed outside the federally funded program.
Pennsylvania received $12,729,659 in Title X family planning funding in fiscal 2026, according to the complaint.
Shapiro's administration has backed Medicaid coverage for abortion, increased reimbursement rates for abortion services and joined legal efforts seeking expanded access to mifepristone.
The filing marks Shapiro's second lawsuit against the Trump administration in as many days.
On Wednesday, the potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender joined a coalition challenging new federal requirements for mail-in ballots ahead of the November midterms.
Neither Shapiro's office nor the White House responded to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.
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The lawsuit, led by New York, Maryland and Massachusetts, and joined by more than 20 mostly blue states and governors, asks a federal court in Maryland to block the administration from applying the challenged conditions to Title X applicants and grantees.
Fox News Digital's Alec Schemmel contributed to this reporting.