The ruling lets Republicans use budget reconciliation to advance the measure with a simple majority, sidestepping Democratic opposition.
A Republican provision to block Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood for one year can remain in the Trump-endorsed One Big Beautiful Bill Act without jeopardizing its passage through a party-line budget reconciliation process, the Senate parliamentarian has ruled, according to Senate Democrats.
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough advised lawmakers that the language on defunding the abortion service provider does not violate the chamber’s Byrd Rule, clearing the way for Republicans to include the measure in their tax and spending package, and pass it with a simple majority vote under budget reconciliation rules, Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) revealed in a June 30 statement.
The provision, revised late June 27 to limit the defunding to one year instead of 10, prohibits Medicaid funding from going to clinics and providers that offer abortion services.
While the legislation does not mention Planned Parenthood by name, the organization is the sole nationwide provider impacted by the restriction. The two Democratic Senators voiced their opposition to the measure.
“Republicans will stop at nothing in their crusade to take control of women’s bodies and deny them the right to make their own health care decisions,” the two senators said.
Republicans have long sought to cut off federal funding for Planned Parenthood, arguing that taxpayer dollars should not support any organization involved in providing abortions. Medicaid is already barred from paying for most abortion services, while GOP lawmakers want to halt government funding entirely to the abortion provider.
The Senate Parliamentarian’s decision to allow the measure to be included in the Republican megabill means it can pass with a simple majority vote under budget reconciliation rules and sidestep Democratic opposition.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), a leading abortion advocate, attempted to remove the defunding language during the Senate’s vote-a-rama session, introducing an amendment on June 30 that failed by 49-51. In a floor speech, Murray said the provision would devastate women’s access to critical health services, especially for low-income patients who rely on Planned Parenthood for care unrelated to abortion.
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), who challenged Murray’s motion during Monday’s vote-a-rama, said that providers who want to receive Medicaid funds should stop offering elective abortions.
By Tom Ozimek
