On May 1, 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, together with Hawai‘i Attorney General Anne E. Lopez, led a coalition of 21 attorneys general in a call to action directed at the Trump Administration. They announced sending a letter expressing grave concern over the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) recent decision to withhold tens of millions of dollars in Title X funding. The program, signed into law by President Richard Nixon, is the only federal initiative dedicated to family planning for low-income and uninsured individuals. The withdrawal, initiated on March 31, affects a broad range of grants supporting almost 25% of all Title X clinics.
The coalition's letter outlined the potential consequences of this funding gap, including increased unintended pregnancies, more sexually transmitted infections, higher rates of undiagnosed HIV, cervical cancer, and added pressure on state budgets. They urged HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to reverse this decision and ensure full financing of these essential programs.
Attorney General Bonta emphasized, “Exactly one month ago, the Trump Administration decided to withhold tens of millions of dollars in Title X funding. Today, my fellow attorneys general and I are urging the Trump Administration to do the right thing. HHS Secretary Kennedy claims to want to ‘Make America Healthy Again’ — restoring Title X funding would do just that.”
Some states, such as California, Hawai‘i, and Maine, have experienced a total withdrawal of Title X funds, leading to significant challenges for providers and patients. In California, nearly half of Title X providers face potential layoffs or reductions in family planning services if funding isn't restored. Cuts will hit hardest in underserved rural and low-income communities where Title X clinics are often the only providers of prenatal care and STI screenings.
The letter reflects on how past policy changes under the Trump Administration contributed to a substantial decrease in healthcare providers and patients served by Title X. Following rule changes in 2019, the number of Title X patients dropped over 60%, from 3.9 million to 1.5 million. If the current withholding persists, the Guttmacher Institute estimates that 834,000 patients, roughly 30% of those served, will lose access to care within a year.
The coalition of attorneys general cautioned that states may need to spend emergency funds to make up for the decreasing number of available providers, as occurred under the 2019 rule. Title X programs are vital for public health, notably in STI and HIV prevention. The letter asserts that HHS’s actions lack justification and claims of civil rights violations by Title X grantees remain unsupported.
Signatories of the letter include attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
The full letter is publicly accessible.