Following federal funding cuts by the Trump administration, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has had to pause abortion services as it works to make up for this funding cut, according to AP News.

The pause includes the three clinics in Dane, Sheboygan and Milwaukee County. This leaves most Wisconsin counties without access to an abortion clinic, University of Wisconsin professor in obstetrics and gynecology Jenny Higgins said. 

“This is a devastating outcome for our state,” Higgins said. “This is a consequence of federal policy change that forced Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin into making a really difficult decision.” 

This change is a result of Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act which includes a provision that removes federal funding to an organization if it continues to provide abortion services with some exceptions in the case of rape or health conditions.

Due to a number of Wisconsin abortion policies that stem from long-standing stigma in the U.S., abortion care has been isolated into brick-and-mortar clinics, with Planned Parenthood being the primary one, according to Higgins. If abortion care were not restricted to these specific clinics, it would be accessible at any OBGYN office or preventative health care clinic, Higgins explained. 

“Research shows that one of the impacts of not having abortion access is being less able to achieve one’s education and employment goals,” Higgins said. “We need to be concerned for all Wisconsinites in relation to this decision, but here on campus we need to be especially concerned about the impact on students’ educational and employment trajectories and aspirations.”

In response to this pause in abortion services, Sen. Kelda Roys, D- Madison, and Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison, introduced the Abortion Accessibility Act on Oct. 1, which would increase access to those who need abortion care in Wisconsin, according to a press release. 

Currently, to receive an abortion, an individual must see the same physician in person twice with more than 24 hours between appointments, receive an ultrasound and may not use Telehealth. Additionally, only physicians are allowed to provide abortion care. This act would remove these restrictions, Roys said.

“A lot of people don’t realize how onerous it is to try to obtain an abortion in Wisconsin,” Roys said. “We thought that this was a really important time to expand access to abortion by repealing some of those politically-motivated restrictions.” 

Politicians should not be in charge of their constituents’ lives and the health care that they can or cannot receive, Roys said. She said individuals and their health care providers should be the ones to make decisions, and that is what this act aims to work toward. 

Despite pausing abortion services, Planned Parenthood clinics will, however, continue to provide other services, including cancer screening, pregnancy testing and STD testing and treatment, according to their website. Those seeking abortion services have to travel outside the state or to one of the two non-Planned Parenthood clinics in Milwaukee, according to AP News. 

Midwest Reproductive Health Center in Rockford, Illinois is also an option for individuals seeking abortion care since Illinois does not have the restrictions that Wisconsin does, Roys said. Individuals can also order abortion medication online at aidaccess.org to keep on hand if they need abortion care, but it becomes more restricted, Roys said.

“It’s very important that young people, especially young women, know that that’s an option,” Roys said. “The Trump administration will stop at nothing to try to restrict access to abortion.”

As the debate over abortion continues, Sen. Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, and Subeck had also introduced the Right to Contraceptive Act on World Contraceptive Day Sept. 26, according to WisPolitics. 

This act would guarantee individuals’ right to contraceptives and health care providers’ right to provide contraceptive care and information to patients, according to WisPolitics. It would prohibit state or local governments from implementing policies that make it difficult for citizens to access contraceptive care or information, according to WisPolitics.

“Access to contraception is an incredibly important health care service and human right,” Higgins said. “We have many terrific FDA-approved contraceptives on the market that people can use to not only prevent pregnancy, but for other health and social benefits.”

This act mirrors the federal Right to Contraceptive Act that was introduced in February of this year, according to WisPolitics. This legislation would ensure the rights of health care providers and individuals to give and obtain contraceptive care and information, according to the act.

Abortion remains a contentious topic, with 52% of Americans believing abortion is morally acceptable and 92% believing birth control and contraceptives are morally acceptable, according to Gallup.

Despite support for contraceptives, the debate was reignited following the overturn of Roe v. Wade when U.S. Justice Clarence Thomas indicated in the concurring opinion that the Supreme Court should reconsider the Griswold v. Connecticut ruling, which recognized the right to access contraception, according to WisPolitics.

“We have incredible methods of contraception that people primarily use to prevent unwanted pregnancies, and being able to prevent unwanted pregnancy is a major determinant of bodily autonomy in human rights,” Higgins said.