An undercover investigation has found that Planned Parenthood, the country’s leading abortion provider, has been prescribing cross-sex hormones to minors as young as 16, often without requiring proper documentation or oversight.
The pro-life group Live Action released a series of recorded phone calls featuring a woman impersonating a 16-year-old seeking hormone therapy to begin gender transition. In these recordings, she contacted multiple Planned Parenthood clinics to inquire about obtaining hormone treatments.
“Our undercover reporting has exposed a chilling reality: Planned Parenthood is fast-tracking vulnerable children into irreversible hormone treatments with almost no medical oversight,” said Lila Rose, president of Live Action, in a public statement.
The investigation revealed that at least seven clinics agreed to prescribe hormones during an initial appointment, many of which could be conducted virtually. Some locations even offered same-day scheduling.
In five cases, the clinics did not require any evidence of a prior mental health evaluation before prescribing the hormones.
“I don’t need any like, therapy or anything first? Like you don’t need any record of that?” the caller asked. A Planned Parenthood staff member responded, “Not that I know of.”
The calls were made to clinics in states including New York and Minnesota.
“There’s nothing that I need before, right? Like I don’t need to, like, have records of meeting with a therapist or anything, right? Because my parents definitely aren’t gonna let me do that,” the caller asked during one interaction. The clinic employee answered simply: “Um . . . nope.”
Though primarily recognized for abortion services, Planned Parenthood is also a major provider of hormone therapy in the United States—second only to one other source, according to the organization’s own documentation. As of 2022, the group reported that 41 of its 49 affiliates offer hormone-related treatments. These treatments for minors can include puberty blockers, estrogen, and testosterone.
“These dangerous drugs can sterilize, stunt growth, and leave lifelong scars. This is not healthcare. It is child abuse, and it must be stopped,” said Rose.
National Review reports that according to its latest annual report, Planned Parenthood received approximately $700 million in government reimbursements and grants in 2023 and performed nearly 400,000 abortions that same year.
Live Action and other pro-life advocates have urged Republican legislators to eliminate Planned Parenthood’s funding through the current reconciliation bill. They argue that although Medicaid reimbursements are technically restricted from funding abortions, the organization still benefits financially through coverage of non-abortion services.
However, some centrist Republicans in the House are quietly resisting the push to defund the organization. Representatives Mike Lawler (R., N.Y.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.), and Jen Kiggans (R., Va.) reportedly expressed concerns during private discussions with House GOP leadership, according to NOTUS.
Although the Hyde Amendment restricts federal funds from being used for most abortions, the proposed legislation aims to divert Medicaid dollars away from Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers more broadly.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid and broader health policy, may begin reviewing the reconciliation bill as early as next week. Lawmakers hope to finalize the bill and send it to the Senate before July 4, as they work to find budget cuts ranging from $800 million to $1.5 trillion to fund Trump’s legislative agenda, reports National Review.