‘DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS’ — Anti-abortion activists and their allies in government are hoping this is the year they finally take down Planned Parenthood by going after the federal funding that makes up more than a third of the organization’s budget — with efforts moving simultaneously through Congress, the courts and the executive branch. “It’s spaghetti-against-the-wall time for those of us who are pro-life,” Tom McClusky, the director of government affairs for the group Catholic Vote, told Nightly. “If it's death by a thousand cuts as opposed to one big blow, I'm okay with that.” The Supreme Court announced this week that it will hear arguments in April on South Carolina’s ability to strip Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood — a landmark case that could prompt dozens of GOP-controlled states to take a significant bite out of the organization’s finances. On the heels of the news, nearly 100 Republican members of Congress wrote to the high court urging the justices to side with the Palmetto State, arguing that the right to exclude the network of clinics is part of “the flexibility Congress gave states to innovate in their Medicaid programs” and that recognizing Planned Parenthood’s right to sue would “usurp” their legislative power. Congress may also take their own whack at the organization in the budget they’re cobbling together ahead of a March funding cliff. But reports emerged last week that House Republicans were getting cold feet about including provisions defunding Planned Parenthood in their reconciliation bill — mainly because, as Nightly reported in December , it would cost taxpayers far more than it saved. That GOP hesitation is now spurring anti-abortion groups to mobilize. And after days of public petitions and social media barrages as well as private meetings with staffers on key committees and in House leadership, some activists are confident they’ve changed lawmakers’ minds. “It lit a fire under some of the pro-life groups,” said McClusky, adding that slashing Planned Parenthood’s budget in a reconciliation bill is “now back on the table” and “certainly closer than it was a week ago.” In one sign of that shift in direction, Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) a longtime abortion opponent who sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee, told NOTUS last week that defunding Planned Parenthood “doesn’t save money,” adding: “I just don’t see how that fits into the current reconciliation discussion.” Today, however, he struck a different note. “We shouldn't be paying for institutions whose primary purpose is to do abortions,” he told Nightly. “[Defunding the group has] been included in reconciliation language twice before and we should include it again.” After years of seeing Republicans on Capitol Hill try and fail to defund the group, McClusky said his group and others won’t let up the pressure. “Just because members are now aware of it does not mean it's 100 percent guaranteed,” he said. “Even the good guys in Congress are sometimes reluctant to actually do something.” Though the majority of abortions are provided by independent clinics that are not part of the Planned Parenthood network, conservatives have long targeted the group’s funding — in part because they are one of the leading players fighting for abortion access in court and in political campaigns. “The GOP has been sitting by while their adversary, Planned Parenthood, has been funded generously,” lamented Kristi Hamrick with Students for Life of America, another group that has been meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson and other members to demand they make defunding the group a priority or risk a primary challenge in 2026. Hamrick said some members have been “tepid” and “passive,” with some arguing that the strict rules around reconciliation might flout the effort. The anti-abortion groups’ response: try anyway. “This is not the time to say I am pro-life theoretically,” she said. “You have to be pro-life practically and actively.” Yet if Congress’ GOP majority once again falls short, judges could get the job done for them. The South Carolina case is far from the only one working its way through federal courts that poses an existential threat to Planned Parenthood. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals could rule any day now on a Texas lawsuit seeking a whopping $1.8 billion in damages over allegations that the group defrauded the state’s Medicaid program — claims the organization says are categorically false. And multiple cases from Ohio and other states seek to reimpose restrictions on the Title X family planning program from Trump’s first administration that caused Planned Parenthood to lose tens of millions in funding . Anti-abortion groups are also continuing to lobby Trump to revive that Title X rule administratively and “debar” Planned Parenthood from receiving any government funds. Planned Parenthood argues that should any of these efforts succeed, it would result in harm to its millions of patients, particularly for those on Medicaid who often struggle to find a doctor willing to take their insurance because of the program’s low reimbursement rates. “Attacks are coming from all directions,” said Hannah Swanson, a senior staff attorney for Planned Parenthood. “The risk is that people will lose the ability to get access to the care that they need — from birth control to STI testing.” Ben Leonard contributed reporting. Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@politico.com . Or contact tonight’s author at aollstein@politico.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @AliceOllstein .
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