LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed an executive order Thursday cutting off Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, intensifying the state’s abortion restrictions even after Nebraska voters passed a 12-week abortion ban just last fall.

State officials called it a victory for unborn babies while critics called it a political stunt eliminating and confusing health care options for women.

“Today is a really, really good day. It’s a great day for Nebraska families. It’s a great day for Nebraska taxpayers,” said state Attorney General Mike Hilgers. “And most importantly, it’s a great day for Nebraska unborn babies.”

The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, returning the abortion question to the individual states.

Nebraska then constitutionally prohibited abortions after 12 weeks thanks to Initiative 434, which voters passed last fall.

Legal precedent for Pillen’s latest executive order comes from 2018 when South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order removing Planned Parenthood from the state’s Medicaid program. After years of back-and-forth, the Supreme Court upheld that decision earlier this year in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic.

Plus, President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” that passed over the summer had a clear prohibition on using federal funds for abortions. That was initially challenged in court, but the injunction was lifted in mid-September.

Thursday’s executive order will ensure Medicaid dollars will not fund abortions in Nebraska. Pillen said if a provider has Medicaid programs terminated in another state, they would also be prohibited from operating those programs in Nebraska as well.

“I think as the governor of Nebraska, how I’m tracking it, there’s not going to be a penny of Nebraska dollars going, tax dollars going to the Planned Parenthood clinics,” Pillen said. “So it would be a cutoff of tax dollars to the clinics that provide those. The Planned Parenthood clinics, period.”

There are only two clinics in the state that provide abortions: Planned Parenthood in Omaha and Care Reproductive Health in Bellevue.

Lincoln has a Planned Parenthood that does not provide abortions. When 10/11 asked Pillen if he was aware the Lincoln clinic didn’t provide abortions, he said even counseling or referral to other places still counts the same in his mind.

“Every Planned Parenthood clinic has opportunities to provide abortion, and they do counseling to provide abortion and abortion services,” Pillen said.

Planned Parenthood also provides primary care at their offices, including contraceptive care, cervical and breast cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment.

“Women don’t have to go to Planned Parenthood, and we’re grateful for that in Nebraska,” said Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Steve Corsi.

Pillen’s office said Medicaid payments to abortion providers for non-abortion services in Nebraska totaled $172,164.11 in Fiscal Year 2024 and $341,972.18 in Fiscal Year 2025.

“From my seat, $1 is too much,” Pillen said.

Both federal and state laws prevent outright taxpayer funding for abortions but have been able to receive them for other services. A press release from Pillen’s office said, “typically those services make up a small percentage of what providers offer, whereas the primary service consists of performing abortions.”

Planned Parenthood North Central States wrote in a statement they haven’t billed Medicaid for any services in Nebraska since that injunction in mid-September.

“This executive order is nothing but a publicity stunt by state leaders meant to confuse Nebraskans about their health care options,” said Ruth Richardson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States. “Nebraskans need birth control. They need cancer screenings. They need wellness exams. And, yes, they need abortion care. Planned Parenthood is proud to provide this essential quality health care to everyone who turns to us, no matter their insurance status.”

PPNCS also referenced a map held up by Pillen and Corsi during Thursday’s press conference. Pillen and Corsi said the map showed the “extraordinary” number of services available for women’s health across the state. PPNCS responded that instead of focusing on vital reproductive care, the administration is “misdirecting constituents towards unlicensed facilities that do not adhere to medical safety standards.”

The Nebraska Family Alliance applauded Pillen and Hilgers following the announcement.

“Nebraska is rightfully taking action to protect life and uphold our state’s pro-life values,” said Nate Grasz, executive director of Nebraska Family Alliance. “Taxpayer dollars should not be funding abortion clinics or corporations like Planned Parenthood.”

10/11 also asked Pillen why they’re focusing on abortion at a time when many Nebraskans — especially children — are going hungry due to withheld SNAP funding.

Pillen’s response was that nobody is going to go hungry.

“When neighbors, before government got into this business, we knew who needed help, we helped each other. We lifted people up. We got them jobs and didn’t keep them in isolation. So that’s what will take place in Nebraska for the SNAP benefits,” Pillen said. “Nobody’s going to go hungry. We have extraordinary services from food pantries to engaged churches and services across the state. Every community is already reaching out and figuring out how they’re going to help their neighbors.”