The Trump administration will announce a ban on federal funds for family planning clinics that discuss the possibility of abortion with female clients on Friday.
The Associated Press reports that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will announced the proposed rule on Friday, which would go into effect after a listening period.
When it takes effect, the rule will ban such clinics, including Planned Parenthood clinics, which are a major recipient of federal dollars, from sharing spaces with abortion providers or discussing abortion with clients.
The move was blasted by the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, which represents family planning clinics across the country.
“The notion that you would withhold information from a patient does not uphold or preserve their dignity,” said Jessica Marcella, the group's vice president for advocacy.
“I cannot imagine a scenario in which public health groups would allow this effort to go unchallenged.”
The Trump administration has positioned itself as a foe of legal abortion and both President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have spoken at the annual March For Life, an anti-abortion demonstration.
Republicans in Congress, working with the Trump administration, unsuccessfully tried to defund Planned Parenthood nationwide last year, and have pledged to continue their efforts.