Washington Attorney General Nick Brown joined 21 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief opposing the Trump administration’s move to defund Planned Parenthood, targeting organizations labeled as "prohibited entities." The Defund Provision of the Big Beautiful Bill Act could close at least 200 Planned Parenthood centers, putting millions of people’s healthcare at risk, according to the Office of the Attorney General.
A coalition of 23 states has already sued to block the provision, a case still pending in the District Court for Massachusetts. AG Brown emphasized that "tens of thousands of Washingtonians rely on Planned Parenthood for essential health services like primary care, cancer screenings, and family planning," as reported by the Office of the Attorney General.
An amicus brief reports that Planned Parenthood provided over 9.45 million services nationwide in fiscal year 2023–2024, including cancer screenings, contraceptive care, and STI testing, with 59% of sexual and reproductive healthcare for Medicaid patients in Washington coming from the organization. The brief supports a District Court injunction blocking the Defund Provision, which is challenged for likely violating the First Amendment and Equal Protection Clause. "The Trump administration’s attack on reproductive freedom threatens an even broader range of health services for our communities, particularly individuals who receive Medicaid," Brown said. The brief also notes that Washington would need $11 million to fully reimburse Planned Parenthood if funding is cut. Attorneys general from several states, including Connecticut, California, New York, Maine, Maryland, and Massachusetts, joined in filing the brief, as stated by the Office of the Attorney General.
