New York Attorney General Letitia James, together with a coalition of 20 other attorneys general, has called for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to restore Title X funds. These funds support family planning and reproductive health services. The coalition criticized the recent decision by HHS to cut these funds, affecting multiple states.
Attorney General James stated, "The federal administration continues to play politics with the lives of the American people. By slashing funding to necessary health care clinics and providers, they are putting millions of Americans at risk while forcing states to clean up the mess. This cruel and shortsighted attack on essential health care will have disastrous impacts in every corner of our country. My fellow attorneys general and I are calling on the administration to reverse this mistaken policy."
The coalition informed Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., that the move would lead to significant public health challenges, including increased rates of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and undiagnosed HIV and cervical cancer. HHS recently informed numerous grant recipients, who oversee a substantial number of Title X clinics, about the termination of funding without providing clear evidence of misconduct.
Attorney General James highlighted the severe consequences of similar funding reductions under the first Trump administration, citing a more than 60% decrease in patients served and substantial service reductions in New York. The Guttmacher Institute predicts the new cuts will cause a loss of care for at least 834,000 patients yearly, increasing unplanned pregnancies, higher rates of STIs, and deteriorating overall health.
The coalition has accused HHS of lacking valid justification for the funding cuts. They claim the notices pointed to "possible violations" of laws and orders without substantial evidence, and allege a political motive against certain reproductive health providers, leading to significant harm to patients and strained state finances. Attorney General James and the coalition are pressing HHS to reverse its decision on withholding these funds.
The letter to HHS was jointly sent by attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.