Planned Parenthood Rejects Donald Trump's Funding Proposal

Planned Parenthood has said no to President Donald Trumps offer of funding—with strings attached.

The President offered to preserve the $500 million in allocated annually to the women's health organization—but only if it stops performing abortions.

He said in a statement:

"As I said throughout the campaign, I am pro-life and I am deeply committed to investing in women’s health and plan to significantly increase federal funding in support of non-abortion services such as cancer screenings. Polling shows the majority of Americans oppose public funding for abortion, even those who identify as pro-choice. There is an opportunity for organizations to continue the important work they do in support of women’s health, while not providing abortion services."

Not surprisingly, Planned Parenthood wasn't receptive to the plan, as it remains committed to providing women with access to all forms of reproductive health care.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards said in a statement:

"The White House proposal that Planned Parenthood stop providing abortion is the same demand opponents of women’s health have been pushing for decades, as a part of their long-standing effort to end women’s access to safe, legal abortion. Planned Parenthood has always stood strong against these attacks on our patients and their ability to access the full range of reproductive health care."

President Trump's plan, which has not been made formally, would allow him to continue to support services that Planned Parenthood provides of which he has spoken positively in the past.

In a statement to the New York Times, President Trump said he plans "to significantly increase federal funding in support of nonabortion services such as cancer screenings.”