Planned Parenthood’s Mysterious Purge After RFK Jr. Takes Over
Planned Parenthood Deletes Instagram Posts After RFK Jr.’s Swearing in
Planned Parenthood made waves on Thursday when all of its Instagram posts vanished shortly after Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in. The organization offered no explanation but posted an Instagram story featuring only a pair of eyes on a black background, per Fox News.
By Friday, another cryptic message appeared on its story, an animated image with the words, “I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me.” When the organization’s Instagram feed returned, it contained only three posts, all promoting condom use.
The sudden social media purge fueled speculation, particularly among pro-life advocates, who renewed calls to strip Planned Parenthood of federal funding. The development coincided with a push from a conservative watchdog group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, which urged the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut financial support for the organization.
Tim Chapman, president of Advancing American Freedom, directly appealed to DOGE Secretary Elon Musk, stating, “For the sake of the American people and generations yet unborn, the time has come for the United States to finally defund the largest abortion provider in America.”
According to a Government Accountability Office report, Planned Parenthood received nearly $22 billion in grants from HHS and an additional $53 billion through public health programs between 2019 and 2021.
As pressure mounts, the potential for funding cuts has drawn mixed reactions. Pro-life activists see this as an opportunity to curtail taxpayer funding of abortion providers, while pro-choice advocates argue that defunding could harm access to reproductive healthcare services.
During his confirmation hearing, Kennedy made his stance on abortion clear, stating, “Every abortion is a tragedy.” He aligned himself with President Donald Trump’s position that states should regulate the issue rather than the federal government.
“I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy,” Kennedy told lawmakers. “I agree with him that we cannot be a moral nation if we have 1.2 million abortions a year. I agree with him that the states should control abortion. President Trump has told me that he wants to end late-term abortions and protect conscience exemptions.”
Kennedy’s past statements have shown some support for abortion rights, but he has now committed to advancing Trump’s policies on the issue.
With Kennedy at the helm of HHS and Musk leading DOGE, pro-choice advocates worry that Planned Parenthood may soon face significant funding cuts.
On February 3, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America released a statement warning that “defunding” the organization could put patients at risk of losing access to essential health services.
The statement noted that in 2022 alone, Planned Parenthood treated 2.05 million patients. It listed services such as over 4.6 million STI tests and nearly 213,000 breast exams. However, the organization did not disclose the number of abortions performed during that period.
The uncertainty surrounding Planned Parenthood’s future funding has heightened tensions in the ongoing national debate over abortion rights and government support for the organization. Both sides are closely watching how the Biden administration will handle the issue amid increasing pressure from conservative lawmakers and advocacy groups.
Planned Parenthood has not provided any further details regarding its social media purge or its strategy moving forward. However, its recent actions have fueled speculation that the organization is bracing for a major shift in federal policy.
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