A federal judge in Pennsylvania has dismissed a lawsuit filed by family planning organizations that challenged new funding priorities set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Title X family planning grants.
U.S. District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson of the Middle District of Pennsylvania issued an order on September 17, 2026, granting a motion to dismiss brought by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and federal officials. The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning the plaintiffs may refile if the dispute later becomes ripe for review.
The lawsuit was filed by the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association and the Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania. The groups challenged requirements outlined in the 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under Title X of the Public Health Service Act, which authorizes federal grants to “offer a broad range of acceptable and effective family planning methods and services.”
Under the 2027 NOFO, applications are evaluated on a 100-point scale, with 35 points assigned to “alignment with agency priorities.” The plaintiffs challenged agency criteria including “Anti-DEI,” “Anti-Gender Ideology,” “...