CEO Update
It has been one of the most challenging years in Planned Parenthood’s 60-year history. That’s why I am so excited to share some good news.
It has been over one year since the start of the second Trump administration, and seven months since HR 1 was passed, defunding Planned Parenthood health centers from the Federal Medicaid program.
For over half of this year, we have been forced to grapple with the realities of continuing to deliver a wide range of high-quality, lifesaving care, to the most vulnerable patients in our communities, without receiving any Federal Medicaid dollars.
Throughout this time, we have been working tirelessly to advocate for and secure additional funding from the State of California to support our health care delivery through the duration of the “defund” provision. On January 30th, California State Senate Leader Monique Limón and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas announced a legislative agreement to take early budget action to keep the doors of Planned Parenthood health centers open across California. The budget deal included $90 million to address funding gaps caused by the federal government’s decisions to defund Planned Parenthood. This early-action budget deal, SB 106, was successfully voted on by the State Legislature, and it was signed into law by Governor Newsom on February 11th. This budget deal will keep Planned Parenthood’s 109 health centers in California’s funded through the end of June.
I had the honor of attending a roundtable discussion with the Governor and First Partner before the bill signing and was present to witness the ceremony.
The is a huge victory, but the fight is not over. The “defund” provision technically expires on July 4th, 2026, but Congress could yet reinstate it by another budget reconciliation bill. And while the state has provided funds to support care through June, we continue to grapple with continuing attacks on abortion and gender affirming care, cuts to grants and other programs, frivolous investigations, and more.
Through it all, with the help of donors like you, we have maintained all our services, kept our doors open, and not turned a single patient away. In fact, we have increased access – providing more patient visits this year than last year.
As we prepare for next year and the years ahead, we are reminded that without the protection of Roe v. Wade, reproductive health care is vulnerable. We must vigilantly prepare to endure moments like this one and ensure the future of reproductive health care here on the Central Coast for decades to come.
To ensure we continue to provide for our community, we have launched the UNSTOPPABLE Campaign, which many of you have generously supported. This campaign is making a real difference in our ability to meet the moment and the growing need for our services.
Thank you for being a partner in our work.
With sincere gratitude,
Jenna