Republicans whistle while Big Abortion seeks their defeat

Independence Day 2026 was a momentous day for this nation: family cookouts, parades down Main Street, and other nationwide celebrations, including the world’s largest fireworks display ever in Washington.

But the celebrations also had a downside. It was also the day that the federal government reopened the funding faucets to abortion giant Planned Parenthood.

Those opposed to abortion scored a major victory last year in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by defunding any facilities that perform abortions. Due to a lack of will among Senate Republican leadership, the defunding only lasted one year, so it expired on July 4.

Planned Parenthood did take a temporary hit, closing some facilities. However, when we hear the billion-dollar Planned Parenthood corporation claim of suffering a lack of services over the defunding, it is hard not to laugh.

“Tens of thousands of patients have been denied access to services like cancer screenings and birth control and STI testing and treatment,” said Nora Walsh-DeVries, vice president of political and legislative affairs at Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

This decline has been going on for decades. According to the Charlotte Lozier Institute, using data from Planned Parenthood’s own annual reports, since 2010, total services are down by 17%. Prenatal services are down over 80%. Total cancer screenings and prevention services, such as breast exams and pap tests, have declined by over 71%.

However, this did not stop one abortion-rights advocate, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), from crowing, “I’m honored to have the endorsement of Planned Parenthood. For so many women, it’s the only place to turn for a mammogram, preventive screenings, reproductive health care, or contraception.”

The problem with Klobuchar’s statement is that it is not true. Planned Parenthood does not do, and never has done, mammograms, a fact the senator should know well, considering that she was called out on this exact same lie over seven years ago.

Activists opposing funding for Planned Parenthood demonstrate in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as the Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic case is heard in Washington on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

" data-large-file="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2207556134.jpg?w=696" height="683" width="1024" src="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2207556134.jpg?w=696" alt="Activists opposing funding for Planned Parenthood demonstrate in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as the Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic case is heard in Washington on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)" class="wp-image-4631933" srcset="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2207556134.jpg 1200w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2207556134.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2207556134.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2207556134.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2207556134.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2207556134.jpg?resize=696,464 696w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2207556134.jpg?resize=1068,712 1068w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px">Activists opposing funding for Planned Parenthood demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court as the Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic case is heard in Washington on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Regardless of the misleading cries of suffering from the abortion industry, there is no reason that Republicans should allow the funding of death to continue. If Planned Parenthood is actually concerned about the women it supposedly serves, why not redirect the over $47 million it is planning to spend this year to defeat Republicans? Which also begs the question: Why are Republicans subsidizing an industry that is seeking their defeat?

We understand that tight numbers and a lack of will in Senate leadership might make extending the defund difficult, but it is insulting not to even try. Republicans in both chambers should make every effort to reissue the Planned Parenthood defund via another reconciliation bill, the continuing resolution in September, or some other “must-pass” bill as soon as possible. And let’s make the defund longer than one year this time.

Meanwhile, allies in the Trump administration are doing their part with the newest efforts to change the grantmaking process, which will make organizations implicated in fraud, which Planned Parenthood seems to constantly be in the midst of, ineligible for taxpayer funds.

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There are some other actions still on the table, though, with the administration. The long-awaited Protect Life Rule, which would enforce the law passed over five decades ago, not to subsidize abortion with tax dollars, is one example. The administration could also declare Planned Parenthood unfit to partner with the federal government, a process called debarment, and cut off all funds to the illicit organization.

The bottom line is, taxpayers should not be on the hook for subsidizing a billion-dollar industry that defrauds the government, vows to defeat Republicans, and, oh yeah, kills over 400,000 babies every year. It is time for Republicans to stop funding their enemies and start saving babies.

Tom McClusky is principal at Greenlight Strategies, and Paul Teller is president of Teller Strategies. Both are longtime pro-life activists.