By Janelle Powell, Opinion Contributor
After 18 long years of fighting, pleading, marching, and praying, Congress finally did what every sane taxpayer knew what had to be done: they told Planned Parenthood to go fund themselves.
Half a billion dollars of our hard-earned money — gone from their pockets. For the first time in decades, America’s largest abortion machine has been forced to tighten its own purse strings instead of using ours.
And to that, I say: good riddance.
For nearly two decades, the pro-life movement has been mocked and ignored by the media; dismissed by politicians, and ridiculed by “progressives” who somehow think the word “choice” should come with a government subsidy. We were told it could not be done. That it was “settled.” That we should just accept it and move on.
Well, we didn’t. And look at us now.
The measure technically only lasts one year — for now. But let’s be clear: this is not symbolic. This is a blueprint. Congress has shown it can be done — Planned Parenthood can be cut off. Now it’s up to us to make sure it’s permanent. No more excuses. No more empty campaign promises. We’ve got the precedent. Now we need the spine.
This wasn’t handed to us. It took years of tireless work. Rallies in the rain. Signs waved on sidewalks while cars sped by. Countless church fundraisers, college debates, volunteer calls, door-knocking, and endless nights of being told we were wasting our time. It took donors who never gave up, activists who took the insults and kept showing up anyway, and ordinary people who decided that enough was enough.
And if you think Planned Parenthood is going to slink away quietly, think again.
They’re already out there scheming up ways to make up the shortfall. Reports are popping up of abortion peddlers setting up shop on campuses, offering “two-for-one” deals — because apparently nothing says “women’s empowerment” like a coupon for ending two lives for the price of one.
Disgusting? Yes. Surprising? No.
So here’s the truth: this fight isn’t over. It never will be until abortion is unthinkable in America. This defunding is a massive blow, but it’s not a death sentence for the abortion industry. They’ll adapt, they’ll pivot, they’ll spread their tentacles into every school, community group, and government grant they can find — unless we stay vigilant. Unless we push back twice as hard.
Today, we celebrate. We should. This win was earned with sweat, prayers, and the kind of stubborn hope that keeps you in the fight even when you’re told it’s hopeless.
But tomorrow? Tomorrow we get right back to work. Because if there’s one thing the pro-life movement has proven, it’s that we don’t quit.
So to Congress, well done — now do it again.
And to Planned Parenthood: go fund yourselves. You should have been doing that from the start.
