Congress Passes So-Called “Big, Beautiful Bill,” Making Way for Sweeping Cuts to Social Services and Defunding Planned Parenthood
Media Contact:
Alicia Hurtado, Director of Advocacy and Communications, Chicago Abortion Fund
Email: communications@chicagoabortionfund.org
Phone: (708) 552-0477
CHICAGO, IL — July 2, 2025 — Today, the House of Representatives passed a harmful budget reconciliation bill that will slash funding for essential programs like Medicaid and SNAP. It also blocks Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funding, a move that will cause nearly 200 clinics, even in non-restrictive states, to risk closure. This is a devastating blow to reproductive healthcare access and will increase barriers for people seeking abortion care across the country.
The Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) provides appointment funding and travel support for people facing barriers to abortion care at Planned Parenthood clinics, as well as at independent abortion clinics, telehealth providers, and hospitals. Since the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, the Chicago Abortion Fund has fielded over 40,000 financial and logistical support requests on their helpline, reflecting a surge in need that is expected to drastically increase as social services and clinic infrastructures are further attacked.
Megan Jeyifo, Executive Director of the Chicago Abortion Fund, issued the following statement:
"Abortion bans and cuts to critical social programs are coordinated economic violence. Every dollar taken from Planned Parenthood, Medicaid, or SNAP benefits puts people at risk. This budget will be devastating for people and families nationwide, and – in tandem with an already tenuous abortion access landscape – will push reproductive healthcare further out of reach for millions of Americans with the threat of Planned Parenthood clinic closures.
Nearly one in four people who are forced to cross state lines for abortion care rely on Illinois – a state that is already fielding the highest surge of out-of-state patients across the country. As a result of this budget, more people will be forced to make hard decisions about caring for their families because they can’t put enough food on the table, have unstable housing, and lack childcare. More people will be unable to handle an unexpected medical expense alone. More people will struggle to make ends meet. More people will find time-sensitive healthcare, like abortion care, far out of their reach.
On the Chicago Abortion Fund helpline, we support people who are facing the steepest barriers to care. They are already navigating economic precarity, and often depend on social services. The majority – over 75% – of people reaching out to CAF are currently enrolled in Medicaid or are uninsured, and 68% of our callers are parents making the best decision for themselves and their families.
Abortion funds don’t just help people get abortions. We help people keep their jobs, feed their kids, stay housed, and build their futures. CAF exists to say that no one should have to decide between basic necessities and healthcare. We fill the gaps when lawmakers gut our safety nets, and we will continue to do so until everyone can access the abortion care they want, need, and deserve."
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The Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) is the largest independent abortion fund in the country. For 40 years, we've been tearing down barriers to abortion care in Chicago, the Midwest, and beyond. We’re not just providing funding; we’re supporting our callers in accessing freedom, dignity, and autonomy.
CAF offers support for people seeking abortion care in Illinois including, procedure funding, travel and related needs like childcare, emotional support and logistical expertise. The organization has relationships with abortion clinics across Illinois and beyond, and supports people nationwide coming to Illinois for care. Since the Dobbs decision, CAF has received support requests from over 40,000 people. In 2024 alone, CAF fielded over 16,000 support requests and distributed over $5 million in direct assistance.