With President Trump and Elon Musk gutting leftist organizations like USAID and the Department of Education, could Planned Parenthood be next on the chopping block?

An advocacy group tied to former Vice President Mike Pence is urging Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency to target Planned Parenthood next in his crusade against waste and fraud in the federal government. 

"For the sake of the American people and generations yet unborn, the time has come for the United States to finally defund the largest abortion provider in America," Tim Chapman, president of Advancing American Freedom, wrote in a letter to Musk on Tuesday.

Cut off Planned Parenthood?

The federal government is the biggest source of funding for Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the U.S.

Planned Parenthood receives millions in funding each year from federal grants and Medicaid reimbursements. The international arm of Planned Parenthood has also received funding from USAID, which has been targeted by Trump and Musk over furious objections from the left.

Under President Biden, the government's support of abortion expanded to an unprecedented degree, particularly after the demise of Roe v. Wade halfway through his term. Indeed, Planned Parenthood received $700 million in federal funds in a single year from 2022-2023, Fox News reports, as Democrats stoked a panic over abortion access.

Democrats rallied against abortion restrictions in 2024, hoping to sink Trump's re-election hopes on an issue where Republicans have struggled to resonate. Trump downplayed the topic, however, and his second term agenda has focused so far on cracking down on immigration and cutting waste in the federal government.

While abortion has not been at the center of Trump's first few weeks, anti-abortion groups see clear overlap between their priorities and Trump's cost-cutting initiatives.

"While we are grateful for your work eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse throughout the federal government, we truly believe that the opportunity to defund Planned Parenthood may be yours and President Trump’s greatest moment," the letter from Pence's organization read.

Pence continues to oppose Trump

The letter is the latest example of Mike Pence's continued political advocacy after his fade to obscurity following the chaotic end of Trump's first term, which saw Pence break with Trump over the 2020 election results.

Pence refused to endorse Trump's re-election bid last year, and the former VP has continued to criticize President Trump on various issues.

In particular, Pence has lobbied against Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's nominee to lead the Health and Human Services Department, over the ex-Democrat's past stance on abortion, and Pence has taken issue with Trump's handling of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Meanwhile, President Trump has reversed the liberal abortion policies of his predecessor, who sought to work around the Hyde Amendment, which makes it illegal to spend taxpayer money on abortions.

Trump signed an executive order reinforcing the Hyde Amendment, and the Pentagon has cut off funding Biden provided for travel to get abortions.