By VDC staff

Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark has joined 22 other states in suing the Trump administration over new conditions placed on federal Title X family-planning funding, including requirements involving DEI programs, transgender policies, contraception and marriage.

Vermont receives about $790,000 annually through Title X, including $760,000 for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, which operates six Vermont health centers and served nearly 10,000 Vermonters last year.

“Political ideology has no place in health care,” Clark said, pledging to defend access to “inclusive, patient-centered health care and family planning services.” Critics of Clark’s decision say Planned Parenthood diminishes the role of parents, is infused with a pro-abortion, pro-gender transition ideology, and is highly influential in policy’ decisions made in Montpelier.

The dispute comes as the Trump administration and congressional Republicans seek to reduce or eliminate federal support for Planned Parenthood and reshape federal family-planning policy. Federal law already prohibits Title X funds from paying for abortions. However, many members of Congress – virtually all Republicans – have argued that funding Planned Parenthood for other services indirectly subsidizes an organization that performs abortions.

The Trump administration also says family-planning programs should emphasize priorities including natural family planning and family formation while eliminating federal DEI initiatives and policies based on gender identity. The administration’s proposed fiscal 2027 budget did not request Title X funding, while House Republicans have proposed eliminating the roughly $286 million program entirely.

Clark’s lawsuit challenges a separate HHS policy requiring Title X grant applicants to comply with Trump administration priorities. The coalition argues those conditions conflict with federal law, are unconstitutionally vague and were imposed without the required federal rulemaking process.

Title X funds contraception, cancer screenings, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, pregnancy testing and other preventive services, primarily for lower-income patients.

Clark’s office said the lawsuit is her 65th case against the Trump administration since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025.