Students for Life Action urges Congress to defund Planned Parenthood by July 4, threatens ‘F’ on pro-life report card

Students for Life Action (SFLAction) is calling on Congress to permanently defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers by July 4 or face an “F” grade on its Pro-Life Generation Report Card.

In a June 3 letter sent to members of Congress, the organization’s president, Kristan Hawkins, urged lawmakers to extend and increase the cuts to federal funding for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers that were included in the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which President Donald Trump signed on July 4, 2025. 

That legislation imposed a one-year restriction on federal Medicaid reimbursements to providers that perform abortions, effectively defunding Planned Parenthood for 12 months. The action resulted in the closure of more than 20 of its facilities. The provision is scheduled to expire on July 4, 2026, which, as Hawkins noted in her letter, is the nation’s 250th anniversary.

“The ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ signing last year on the Fourth of July started a countdown clock,” Hawkins said in a statement. “If Congress does not act to keep the cuts in place, Planned Parenthood & Big Abortion will revive a massive gift from taxpayers on America’s 250th birthday.”

>> Planned Parenthood reports performing a record 434,450 abortions in latest annual report <<

Hawkins said in the letter that the original House language in the “Big Beautiful Bill” called for a 10-year defunding period, but the Senate shortened it to one year. The group is now pressing Republicans, who control the White House, House, and Senate, to finish the job.

SFLAction said it will assign a negative score to all lawmakers on whether Congress meets the July 4 deadline, but if they miss it, lawmakers can still earn “extra credit” by taking additional pro-life actions. The group invited members to identify legislative remedies they plan to pursue to ensure that no taxpayer dollars fund abortion.

Hawkins also warned that the Republican Party could face political consequences if it does not stand firm in its protection of unborn life. Citing a February Cygnal poll, Hawkins noted in the letter that 32% of GOP voters are less likely to vote in the midterms if they perceive the GOP to have abandoned the issue of limiting abortion.

“This means nearly a third of the GOP’s base puts abortion at or near the top of their priorities when it comes to voting,” she wrote, “spelling potential disaster for the GOP if they don’t act to protect Life.”

>> Pro-life orgs ask Congress to extend moratorium on taxpayer funding of abortions <<