Four out of Iowa’s six planned parent-child clinics, along with four in Minnesota, are set to close within a year. Freezing federal funds, along with budget reductions, has been proposed by the council seeking to impose state restrictions on abortion.
The clinics that will close in Iowa include the state’s only facility that provides abortion procedures in Ames, which is also home to Iowa State University. Services will be redistributed, and organizations will continue to offer medication abortions for patients in Des Moines and Iowa City.
Planned Parenthood North Central States will close two clinics located in the Minneapolis area, specifically in Apple Valley and Richfield. Additional closures include facilities in central Minnesota, such as Alexandria and Bemidji. Notably, the Litchfield Clinic among them provides abortion procedures.
The Planned Parenthood affiliate announced it would lay off 66 employees and request that 37 additional staff relocate to other clinics. The organization also plans to enhance telehealth services, aiming to reach 20,000 patients each year. This affiliate serves five states: Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
“We have struggled to unite unsustainable infrastructure as the landscape evolves and the wave of attacks continues,” said Affiliate President and CEO Ruth Richardson in a statement.
Of the remaining 15 clinics operated by Planned Parenthood North Central States, six provide abortion services. Five of these are in Minnesota, with three located in the Minneapolis area. Other clinics can be found in Omaha, Nebraska.
The affiliate disclosed in April that President Donald Trump’s administration had frozen $2.8 million in federal funds in Minnesota, which supports various services including birth control, cancer screening, and sexually transmitted disease testing.
While federal funds are generally not allowed to be used for most abortions, opponents have long contended that planned parent-child services should not receive taxpayer funding.
Additionally, Planned Parenthood North Central States noted the proposed cuts to Medicaid, aimed at eliminating funds for teen pregnancy prevention programs.
Moreover, last year, a Republican-led initiative in Iowa banned most abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy—before many women even realized they were pregnant. Consequently, the number of abortions performed in the first six months dropped by 60%, prompting a surge in patients seeking services in Minnesota and Nebraska.
Following the closures, Planned Parenthood North Central States will maintain 10 physical clinics in Minnesota, two in Iowa, two in Nebraska, and one in South Dakota. Although there are no clinics in North Dakota, a facility in Moorhead, Minnesota, is situated across the Red River from Fargo, North Dakota.
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This story was initially published on May 23, 2025, and updated on May 24, 2025, when the organization confirmed that despite the planned parent-child closures, it will continue to provide medication abortions for patients in Des Moines and Iowa City.
Source: apnews.com