Planned Parenthood has announced that it is cutting a percentage of its workforce. In a press release, the abortion organization stated that the reasons are the restructuring of its national office, the prioritization of investments in its local affiliates and the cancellation of special programs:
These expanded investments mean that PPFA and the Action Fund will prioritize what the national office should do and eliminate programs that we will not do. That change in strategy and prioritization of resources requires a reduction in our current workforce. In March, we shared the planned strategic changes with national office staff and informed them that some of our dedicated and talented colleagues may be affected. Today we are informing you that the affected personnel will receive a notice of loss of employment in mid-June.
The abortion provider detailed that this event occurs almost a year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, which has led them to "face political and legal challenges.":
Every step of the way, we have faced political and legal challenges and fought to protect reproductive freedom and access to care. Undoubtedly, the world we live in right now is very different than just a decade ago. Planned Parenthood must also change.
The new investments will total more than US$70 million to expand the direct funding of independent affiliates. They will also expand their digital health care platforms and money will be allocated to political promotion and mobilization and recruitment of supporters.
Layoffs could affect between 10 and 20% of its labor force.
Unionists representing the organization's workers commented that the layoffs could affect as much as 10% to 20% of its workforce nationwide, according to National Public Radio (NPR).
In a joint statement, employee representatives from the San Francisco, New York, and Washington D.C. locations alleged that Planned Parenthood leaders are "pushing out some of the brightest minds in our movement. This comes at a time when reproductive freedom is in jeopardy and when our members are struggling under difficult economic conditions."
Alexis McGill Johnson - president and chairman of the organization - stated that they are not taking the "moment lightly" and justified the dismissals on the grounds that "the changing landscape calls for very difficult decisions about the way forward." He further noted that while "some of our fiercest and most incredible employees will not continue this journey with us. They will receive financial support and healthcare coverage, as well as career transition assistance."
