A new survey has found that nearly half of Americans are in favor of the proposed "Protect Life Rule," which would cut Title X family planning funding for organizations that perform abortions.
The Washington Examiner reported that the Trump administration is planning to file a request that would prevent healthcare facilities from receiving federal funding if they perform or promote abortions.
A poll conducted by McLaughlin & Associates has found that 48 percent of Americans support the proposal, while 40 percent are opposed and 12 percent undecided.
The participants of the poll consisted of 1,000 likely general election voters across the U.S., according to the Susan B. Anthony (SBA) List, which commissioned the poll.
In the survey, the respondents were asked the question: "President Reagan instituted a policy that taxpayer funds could only go to family planning clinics that do not perform or refer for abortions. Do you support or oppose reinstating this policy?"
According to the SBA List, the proposal does not cut funds allocated for family planning, but rather it redirects the money to family planning facilities that do not promote or perform abortions.
The proposal is based on a Reagan-era rule that required abortion providers to have separate facilities and personnel from family planning services.
The Washington Examiner reported that the rule was never completely implemented as Planned Parenthood and other organizations challenged it in court. The policy was rescinded in 1994 during the term of President Bill Clinton.
The new proposal included a provision that directs clinics to comply with state reporting laws regarding the number of patients treated at the clinics and those who are victims of sexual assault, rape or incest.
Planned Parenthood Vice President Dawn Laguens denounced the proposal saying: "Everyone has the right to information about their healthcare — including information about safe, legal abortion, and every woman deserves the best medical care and information, no matter how much money she makes or where she lives. No matter what.
"This is an attempt to take away women's basic rights, period. Under this rule, people will not get the healthcare they need. They won't get birth control, cancer screenings, STD testing, and treatment, or even general women's health exams," she went on to say.
SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser hailed the administration's decision to enact the policy.
"We thank President Trump for keeping his promise to disentangle taxpayers from the abortion business. Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion business, is responsible for more than 300,000 abortions a year and has been receiving $50-60 million in Title X taxpayer funds annually," Dannenfelser said in a statement.
The Trump administration has been credited with the implementation of several pro-life measures, such as the reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy, a Reagan-era rule that prohibited the government from funding organizations that promote abortion abroad. The policy reportedly affected International Planned Parenthood, which received funding from the previous administration.
