The court ruled 2-1 in Ohio et al. v. Becerra et al.that HHS rules governing the distribution of Title X family planning funds violated Title X law. The court wrote in its opinion that the HHS cannot permit taxpayer funding for family planning programming that provides abortion.
The case originates from a 2021 lawsuit filed by Ohio and 12 other states seeking a preliminary injunction against the Biden administration's rule changes. After the states were denied relief at a lower court, the Sixth Circuit granted an injunction exclusively to Ohio, not the co-plaintiff states. The court said that only Ohio had demonstrated a loss of Title X funds warranting an injunction.
A press release from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's office states that "Ohio's Department of Health's grant money decreased significantly after the rule changes allowed Planned Parenthood to re-enter the Title X program."
“Whatever your opinion on abortion as a moral matter,” Yost said, “the court vindicated Congress’ considered judgment that tax dollars should not fund programs that use abortion as a method of family planning.”
