Arnold & Porter Obtains Victory on Behalf of Planned Parenthood

US District Court Judge Thomas Rice ruled in favor of Arnold & Porter's pro bono client Planned Parenthood in a high-profile challenge to protect its grants. The decision centered around the Trump Administration's attempt to terminate grant funding for three Planned Parenthood affiliates who were participating in the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP), which is run by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

When the HHS moved to terminate the program after three years instead of the allotted five, the Arnold & Porter team challenged the decision by arguing that it was "arbitrary and capricious" under the Administrative Procedures Act, as it violated HHS's own regulations that set out the bases on which the grants could be terminated. Judge Rice agreed with Arnold & Porter, and converted the preliminary injunction into a permanent one.

Arnold & Porter associates Nathan Castellano and Allyson Himelfarb took leading roles in drafting arguments, along with retired partner Drew Harker. The team also included partners Kristen Ittig, Bridget Weiss; associates Andrew Tutt, Anne Pearlman, Sarah Warlick Sigurdson, Christina Brenha, Alice Huling, Holly Leeser and procurement analyst Peter McKeen.
 

Arnold & Porter's representation and argument was covered by The Associated Press.