Nebraska governor’s executive order defunds abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has issued an executive order defunding Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.

Executive Order No. 25-16, titled “Protecting the Life, Health, and Welfare of Pregnant Women and Unborn Human Life,” was signed Nov. 6 and directs the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to stop giving Medicaid dollars to abortion providers.

“Nebraskans have made clear they support a culture of love and life in our state – one that provides protections for the unborn,” Gov. Pillen said in a press release. “I’m proud that we can take this bold step in halting funding to abortion providers that receive Medicaid funding.” 

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers added the path for this executive order was paved by President Trump’s action to defund abortion on the federal level as well as a recent Supreme Court ruling. 

Earlier this year, Planned Parenthood sued South Carolina for prohibiting Medicaid dollars going to abortion clinics. However, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against Planned Parenthood, saying Medicaid does not give individuals the right to choose any medical provider. 

Now, Nebraska is following in South Carolina’s footsteps. 

“Nebraskans care about the lives of the unborn,” Hilgers observed. “Through laws passed by their state and federal representatives, Nebraskans have made clear that they want their hard-earned taxpayer dollars going to good healthcare, not subsidizing abortions.” 

As pro-life policies are gaining traction nationwide, other states are stamping out abortion pills. 

Texas passed a bill in September outlawing the abortion pill in the state. Nearly two-thirds of abortions are performed chemically, an increase since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. 

Pro-life policymakers are also grappling with the mail-order abortion industry, which allows dangerous pills to be mailed across state lines with no medical supervision. Despite claims that complications are rare, studies have shown 11% of women who take the abortion pill will suffer a “serious adverse event” such as sepsis, fallopian tube rupture or hemorrhaging. 

The state of Louisiana is currently suing the FDA, calling for tighter federal regulations around the abortion pill and mail-order abortions. 

Louisiana also is challenging the legality of “shield laws” protecting abortion providers who send these dangerous drugs to patients in states where abortion is illegal.