Judge Pauses Trump Teen Pregnancy Grant Limits, Leaves Terminated Awards Frozen
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg Law · Aug 19
Judge Pauses Trump Teen Pregnancy Grant Limits, Leaves Terminated Awards Frozen
2 articles · Updated · Bloomberg Law · Aug 19
Summary
A federal judge on Wednesday blocked HHS from enforcing new restrictions on the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, finding the policy likely violated administrative law.
Judge Christopher Cooper said the changes appeared arbitrary and capricious because HHS imposed grant conditions Congress did not intend or failed to explain reasonably.
The order does not restore grants HHS terminated last month, with Cooper citing unresolved questions over whether that relief belongs in the Court of Federal Claims under the Tucker Act.
Hennepin County, King County, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and SIECUS challenged both the policy shift and the early grant cuts, calling the ruling a partial win because affected communities still lack programs.
The injunction marks another court setback for Trump administration efforts to remake federal grants around priorities such as abstinence, with both sides ordered to propose next steps by Sept. 1.