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Eight abortion clinics run by Planned Parenthood’s Northern Central States region are slated to shut down across Minnesota as well as Iowa as the Trump administration is targeting funds going to Planned Parenthood.
The announcement from Planned Parenthood comes after the "One Big, Beautiful Bill" passed in the House, which said it would defund the abortion provider, according to Axios.
Around a third of the organization's staff in the region are set to be laid off, and the leaders of the regional chapters said that the decision was based on the Trump administration's decision to freeze $2.8 million in federal funds that contributed to the organization.
The abortion provider was also facing broader challenges such as staff shortages and other factors, the outlet stated. Although federal funds cannot be used directly for abortions, money is fungible, and Republicans have fought to prevent federal funds from going to the largest abortion organization in the country. Around 30 percent of its patients also use Medicaid, and Republicans are looking to prohibit Medicaid funds from going to the abortion provider, according to PBS.
Ruth Richardson, the president of Planned Parenthood's northern states region, said that it was "heart wrenching" that they will have to consolidate operations, meaning they will have fewer resources to abort babies.
"We have been fighting to hold together an unsustainable infrastructure as the landscape shifts around us and an onslaught of attacks continues," she added. The Planned Parenthood abortion clinics set to close include Ames Health Center, Cedar Rapids Health Center, Sioux City Health Center, and Urbandale Health Center in Iowa. In Minnesota, Alexandria Health Center, Apple Valley Health Center, Bemidji Health Center, and Richfield Health Center will all be closing.
66 staff members are set to be laid off, and 37 have received offers to be reassigned elsewhere.
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