'Anorexic' reconciliation bill could mean Planned Parenthood gets re-funded

Source: Politico

04/23/2026 05:00 PM EDT


Republicans’ push for a narrow party-line bill focused solely on immigration enforcement funding is running into opposition from anti-abortion activists and lawmakers who fear it will trigger the return of hundreds of millions in Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood.

That, conservatives argue, would demoralize the GOP base ahead of the midterms and widen the existing rift between their movement and the Trump administration.

During a budget resolution vote-a-rama that stretched into early Thursday morning, the Senate narrowly rejected an amendment drafted by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) to extend the defunding law Republicans passed in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act through 2035. GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined all Democrats in opposition.

While Hawley and his hardline House allies can keep pushing to get the provision included in the party-line bill over the coming weeks, many Republicans fear their party will squander their last chance to pass several conservative priorities — from defunding Planned Parenthood to stricter voting requirements — before potentially losing the majority this November.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/23/anorexic-reconciliation-bill-could-mean-planned-parenthood-gets-re-funded-00889576