Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford has joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in urging the Trump Administration to reconsider its decision to withhold significant Title X funding. This federal program, established under President Richard Nixon, is dedicated to providing family planning services for low-income and uninsured individuals.
On March 31, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notified several grant recipients that their Title X funds were being withheld. These grants support nearly a quarter of all Title X clinics nationwide. The attorneys general expressed concerns that this action could lead to increased unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, undiagnosed HIV cases, cervical cancer rates, and strain on state budgets.
Attorney General Ford stated, "I'm deeply troubled by the decision to withhold Title X funding that so many vulnerable Nevadans rely on for family planning and reproductive health." He emphasized the potential impact on real people who depend on these services.
In some states like California, Hawaii, and Maine, all Title X funds have been withheld entirely. This has forced states to find alternative solutions as healthcare providers associated with the program face closure or service reductions. Poor and rural communities are expected to be most affected by these changes.
The letter sent by the attorneys general calls upon HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reverse the decision and restore full funding for these programs.
Attorney General Ford was joined in this effort by his counterparts from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island Vermont and Washington. The initiative was co-led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez.