Title X Funding at Risk for Pennsylvania Health Organizations Due to New Federal Policy
Several family planning and health organizations across Pennsylvania may face delays or denials in federal funding due to a recent policy change by the Trump administration, as alleged in a new lawsuit.
The Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania, based in Cumberland County, is one of the plaintiffs challenging a new step introduced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the application process for Title X grants. These grants support local agencies in providing family planning and related services to low-income and uninsured patients.
According to the Title X 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity published in April, a group of presidential appointees will now conduct an “alignment review” to evaluate whether each application aligns with agency priorities before considering its merits, with no option for appeal.
The plaintiffs claim this step could lead to evaluations based on political considerations. “The Trump administration’s attempt to condition Title X funding on political allegiance is a grave threat to public health,” stated Sara Rose, deputy legal director at ACLU of Pennsylvania.
Title X, established under the Nixon administration, has historically faced opposition from anti-abortion activists. The Trump administration has sought to redirect the program’s focus toward encouraging more pregnancies, and earlier efforts to prevent funds from reaching Planned Parenthood were unsuccessful.
The lawsuit, filed in the federal Middle District of Pennsylvania, lists HHS, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and other agency staff as defendants.
In Pennsylvania, four Title X grantees serve different regions: The Family Health Council in central Pennsylvania, AccessMatters in Philadelphia, Adagio Health in the west, and Maternal and Family Health Services in the northeast.
Annually, these organizations receive over $12.6 million in Title X funds, serving more than 160,000 patients. AccessMatters alone supports over 90,000 individuals. These agencies provide services ranging from contraception and fertility care to cancer and STI screenings.
Nationally, Title X grantees served nearly 2.8 million people, according to the latest data from HHS.
The lawsuit points out that existing Biden administration regulations governing Title X applications are in conflict with the Trump administration’s priorities. For example, while HHS aims to eliminate “ideologically-laden concepts like health equity,” Title X rules require advancing health equity. Additionally, current regulations mandate inclusivity for transgender individuals, contrary to the Trump administration’s stance.
Brigitte Amiri of the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project commented that changes to Biden-era regulations would require a public notice and comment process rather than a funding announcement.
The lawsuit contends that the new review step undermines the fairness of the Title X grant process, allowing HHS to fund organizations aligned with its political goals. Notably, Title X funds cannot be used for abortions.
Federal Judge Jennifer Wilson, appointed by Trump in 2019, will preside over the case. Attempts to obtain comment from HHS were unsuccessful.
The Family Health Council, a longstanding recipient of Title X funding, joined the lawsuit due to its extensive service area, as explained by the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association. Patricia Fonzi, president and CEO, emphasized the importance of an equitable grant process, stating, “Every applicant should be evaluated on its ability to effectively serve communities.”
The plaintiffs seek to have the court invalidate the new Title X rule, deeming it “unlawful.” Title X funds are awarded for five-year cycles, with the current rule applying to the 2027 fiscal year’s funding process.
