GOP senators demand answers on Planned Parenthood’s $120M in COVID-19 relief funds

• Two Republican senators demand SBA transparency on Planned Parenthood receiving $120M in PPP loans despite federal abortion funding restrictions.
• Federal laws prohibit taxpayer dollars from funding abortions, raising questions about Planned Parenthood’s eligibility.
• During the Trump administration, Planned Parenthood affiliates were deemed ineligible for PPP loans due to size and abortion funding laws.
• The Biden administration approved additional funds, sparking concerns about legal and moral violations.
• The controversy highlights broader issues of PPP mismanagement and misuse of taxpayer money.

Two Republican senators are demanding answers from the Small Business Administration (SBA) about how Planned Parenthood affiliates received over $120 million in COVID-19 relief funds, despite being deemed ineligible for such aid.

Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) sent a letter to SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler on Friday, seeking transparency about the abortion giant’s access to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The move comes after years of alleged obstruction by the Biden administration, which approved nearly $40 million in loans to Planned Parenthood affiliates despite federal laws barring taxpayer dollars from funding abortions.

The controversy highlights a long-standing battle over taxpayer-funded support for Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider. Critics argue that the organization’s access to PPP funds violates both the spirit and the letter of the law, which prohibits federal funding for abortions and restricts aid to large organizations.

A history of ineligibility

In May 2020, during the Trump administration, the SBA determined that Planned Parenthood affiliates were ineligible for PPP loans. The agency cited federal laws prohibiting taxpayer funding for abortions and the organization’s size, as the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) operates as a large, centralized entity. Despite this, Planned Parenthood affiliates applied for and received 38 loans totaling more than $80 million.

The Biden administration later approved an additional $40 million in loans to Planned Parenthood affiliates, raising questions about whether the SBA reversed its earlier stance. “The Biden administration stonewalled my oversight efforts at every turn and prevented the American people from learning how Planned Parenthood cashed in on COVID,” Ernst told The Daily Signal.

The PPP was designed to help small businesses struggling during the pandemic, not to fund organizations that provide abortions. “Not a single tax dollar should fund abortions,” Ernst said. “The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to help Americans struggling during the pandemic, not to go to ineligible recipients fueling abortion-on-demand.”

Rand Paul, a physician and staunch pro-life advocate, echoed these concerns. “The Biden administration obstructed our investigation of potentially illegal applications of PPP loans to Planned Parenthood entities, and we are confident the Trump administration will provide the transparency the American people deserve,” he said.

The senators’ letter alleges that the SBA under Biden hid critical information about Planned Parenthood’s PPP loans. They argue that the organization’s affiliates should never have been eligible for the funds, given their size and the federal restrictions on abortion funding.

A pattern of mismanagement

The controversy over Planned Parenthood’s PPP loans is part of a broader pattern of mismanagement within the program. According to the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, the PPP lost at least $64 billion to fraud. Critics argue that the Biden administration’s approval of loans to Planned Parenthood affiliates is another example of wasteful spending and a disregard for federal law.

Ernst and Paul have repeatedly sought answers from the SBA about how Planned Parenthood affiliates were able to secure and retain PPP funds. Their latest letter underscores their commitment to uncovering the truth and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not used to fund abortions.

As the SBA under Administrator Loeffler ushers in a new era of transparency, Ernst and Paul are hopeful that their efforts will finally yield answers. “Now that Administrator Loeffler has ushered in a new era of transparency at the SBA, I look forward to working with her to uncover the truth and stop the flow of these funds,” Ernst said.

The fight over Planned Parenthood’s PPP loans is more than a financial dispute—it’s a moral one. Taxpayer dollars should never be used to fund abortions, and the Biden administration’s approval of these loans represents a troubling departure from that principle. As Ernst and Paul continue their investigation, they are sending a clear message that accountability matters, and the American people deserve to know how their money is being spent.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

DailySignal.com

Paul.Senate.gov