The Supreme Court declined on Tuesday to prevent the Biden administration from withholding family-planning grant funding from Oklahoma over the state’s refusal to offer abortion referrals.
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court denied Oklahoma’s emergency request to prevent the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from withholding $4.5 million in grant funding from the state while it appeals a lower court’s ruling.
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Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch would have granted Oklahoma’s application, accordingto the order.
In 2021, HHS adopted a rule requiring recipients of Title X grants to offer pregnant clients “neutral, factual information and nondirective counseling” about their options, including abortions.
The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the HHS in July, declining to prevent the agency from withholding Oklahoma’s grant. Oklahoma asked the Supreme Court in early August to allow it to access the funds while it appeals the decision.
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“Title X does not unambiguously impose an abortion counseling or referral requirement,” the state wrote in its emergency application. “Therefore, HHS cannot impose an abortion counseling or referral requirement on Title X grantees.”
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First published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.