The Senate has decided to uphold a controversial amendment in the Big Beautiful Bill, effectively maintaining the ban on federal funding for abortion provider Planned Parenthood, an organization primarily backed by private donations.
The provision, supported by the GOP, blocks Medicaid funding for any clinics that provide abortion services. This amendment was given the green light by the Senate Parliamentarian earlier this week, and will likely pass with a simple majority.
“This is a significant setback for millions of women nationwide who depend on Planned Parenthood for essential reproductive health services,” lamented Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), who spearheaded the amendment aimed at preserving funding, following the Parliamentarian’s ruling.
Notably, Republicans adjusted the provision on Friday, limiting the federal funding prohibition for Planned Parenthood to just one year instead of the initially proposed ten years.
The Hill reported:
A Senate GOP provision that would block Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood will remain in the massive tax and spending bill after the Senate parliamentarian on Monday advised the language does not violate the chamber’s Byrd Rule.
The ruling from Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough comes after Senate Republicans updated the provision late Friday night to change the timing of the “defunding” from 10 years to one year.
The bill’s language doesn’t specifically mention Planned Parenthood; it prohibits clinics and providers that offer abortions from accepting Medicaid for the other family planning and reproductive health care services they provide.
However, Planned Parenthood remains the sole organization affected by this provision.
Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, both of whom supported Murray’s amendment, are anticipated to oppose this provision in the final bill. The amendment failed narrowly, with a vote tally of 49 to 51, aligning Murray and Murkowski with the Democrats.
BREAKING: By a vote of 49-51, the Senate has just REJECTED an amendment which would have funded Planned Parenthood as part of the BBB.
Important win. pic.twitter.com/Hf3rXXkdma
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 30, 2025
The House plans to convene on Wednesday to vote on the final version of the bill as passed by the Senate.
will continue to provide updates on the Senate’s vote-a-rama and the final passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill.
