Planned Parenthood turns down Trump's funding offer in exchange for dropping abortions

Planned Parenthood has turned down President Donald Trump's offer to keep its federal funding in exchange for discontinuing its abortion services.

According to The New York Times, White House officials have proposed that Planned Parenthood could keep its federal funding if it stops providing services related to abortion.

In a statement issued on Monday, Trump reiterated his pro-life stance and said that he was willing to increase federal funding for women's health care services that are not related to abortion.

"Polling shows the majority of Americans oppose public funding for abortion, even those who identify as pro-choice. There is an opportunity for organizations to continue the important work they do in support of women's health, while not providing abortion services," the president stated.

However, Planned Parenthood officials rejected the proposal, saying it was an "impossibility." The organization, which receives about $500 million in federal funding each year, insisted that the funds do not pay for abortions.

"Offering money to Planned Parenthood to abandon our patients and our values is not a deal that we will ever accept. Providing critical health care services for millions of American women is nonnegotiable," said Dawn Laguens, the executive vice president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Planned Parenthood performs over 300,000 abortions annually, but it has claimed that abortion is "only three percent" of its business," according to Life Site News.

During the campaign period, Trump had spoken favorably about Planned Parenthood's work, saying millions of women have benefited from its services such as cancer screenings. But he vowed to defund the organization because it performs abortions.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, said that Trump is fulfilling his campaign promise. She said that she had no problem with the proposal because her opposition to Planned Parenthood lies with its abortion work.

Earlier this week, House Republicans released a draft of an Obamacare replacement bill, which would strip Planned Parenthood of most of its federal funding.

In early January, the Senate approved a budget resolution bill that would pave the way to redirect Planned Parenthood's taxpayer funding to other health care organizations.

Planned Parenthood has been referred by a Congressional Panel and a U.S. Senate committee for prosecution last year due to its alleged involvement in the sales of fetal body parts.