By Ricardo Pinedo

In recent years across the USA, conservatives who spoke out for the unborn often faced cancellation, censorship, and fierce opposition in both politics and culture. Yet, despite those challenges, the current administration has given pro-life voices a stronger platform than ever before. After years of setbacks, the movement for life is now witnessing tangible victories—proof that perseverance, faith, and steadfast advocacy for the unborn can change the nation’s direction. The tide is turning, and the victories belong not to any political party, but to the Lord of Life Himself. 

 1. Americans’ Growing Discomfort with Abortion

Evidence suggests that a sizable number of Americans are uncomfortable with abortion. For example, a 2024 Pew Research article indicates that 36% of Americans believe abortion should be illegal in all or most cases—revealing that more than a third of the nation supports stronger restrictions. 

A 2023 Gallup poll showed over half of Americans (55%) oppose child-killing in the second trimester, and an even larger majority (70%) oppose it in the third trimester. These growing sentiments reflect a clear cultural shift towards a life-affirming respect for children in the womb.

“I believe this points to a stirring of conscience,” says Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue. “A reminder that God has written His law on human hearts as stated in Romans 2:15. Deep down, many know that the destruction of innocent life is not freedom—it is bondage and loss.”

2. Defunding Planned Parenthood on a Federal Level

As part of the anti-life culture, ever since 1970 when Title X was passed and signed into law, politicians have forced taxpayers to subsidize Planned Parenthood—the largest abortion provider in America. Immediately, Planned Parenthood not only received millions of taxpayer dollars in Title X funding to pay for abortions and birth control across America, but soon after  also received millions more annually from taxpayer-funded USAID grants to promote “access” to abortion worldwide. For 55 years, except for a brief blip during Trump’s last term, this abortion monster has continued unabated to expand child-killing in the USA and globally, using American tax money.

Until this year, when Congress passed and the President signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — a reconciliation spending package proposed by the Trump administration. The Act prohibits federal Medicaid funding for abortion, including providers like Planned Parenthood.

“Though the Act only defunds abortion for one year, we pro-life advocates see this as a long-awaited legislative success that could still shutter hundreds of Planned Parenthood sites and limit access to child-killing ‘reproductive services’ nationwide,” said Newman. “This is an answer to decades of prayer, activism, and relentless pro-life work—and a victory for Christians and people of faith who, for many years, were forced to contribute to this evil through taxes and against their own conscience.”

“The movement still has plenty of work to do—this is just the beginning. The Planned Parenthood empire is fighting back because they don’t want to lose one of their main sources of income. They have friends in high and dark places challenging this defunding movement, but pro-life America will not relent—praying, speaking, and standing firm, our work continues. And with an administration in the White House also willing to fight for life, we pray the Lord continues to bless our battle for the unborn and their mothers.”

3. Defunding Planned Parenthood at the State Level

In June of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. The Court ruled that Medicaid beneficiaries do not have an individual right to sue if their state excludes Planned Parenthood from Medicaid networks—strengthening states’ ability to defund and exclude abortion from tax-funded “healthcare.” Yet another huge victory.

Newman said, “This is indeed a victory from the Supreme Court and for the preborn in states willing to protect them. We still have to watch what activist federal judges are doing around the nation. For instance, not too long ago a federal judge in Massachusetts, Indira Talwani, issued a preliminary injunction to block the defunding of Planned Parenthood. But we continue to pray, work, and trust in the Lord—this is a temporary obstacle, and Planned Parenthood was already sinking longing before the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

4. Major Setbacks for Planned Parenthood: Flagship Closures

In early April 2025, the Trump administration began to withhold tens of millions in Title X family planning funds from Planned Parenthood affiliates, claiming ideological misalignment.

Pro-abortion proponents like KFF and the Guttmacher Institute claimed that removing Planned Parenthood from federal funding streams would leave massive gaps in access to abortion and contraception, gaps that other health centers can’t realistically fill.

Since then, two Houston-area Planned Parenthood clinics—including the prominent Prevention Park megaclinic —have announced they will close on September 30, 2025. Although they claim the closures are part of a “restructuring” by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, we know this is a direct result of successful pro-life efforts in Texas, many of which Operation Rescue supported and participated in.

The Prevention Park clinic—infamously the largest child-sacrifice and administrative facility for Planned Parenthood in the Western Hemisphere before Texas enacted near-total abortion restrictions in 2022—will soon be shuttered.

Months before the Texas announcement, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York also announced the imminent closure of an even more infamous flagship clinic–their Manhattan Health Center located at 26 Bleecker Street in New York City. New York is easily one of the most radically pro-abortion states in the nation, and its flagship killing center couldn’t even keep the doors open.

Newman added, “I thank God the truth has finally prevailed and that these killing centers will be closed for good.”

5. More Major Setbacks: Forty-One Planned Parenthood Closures Nationwide

More than just flagship clinics, a remarkable shift is underway: 41 Planned Parenthood centers have closed as of August 2025—a powerful sign that America is moving toward greater respect for the life of the unborn. These closures, quietly enacted across various states, mark an important victory for those who have long advocated for the protection of unborn children.

“We have seen closures even in radical liberal pro-abortion states like California, Illinois, Nevada, and New York (where the infamous Manhattan Clinic was closed for good).” said Newman. “Other states include Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Minnesota, Michigan, Louisiana, Iowa, and Indiana. We aren’t tired of winning, and we pray daily for even more killing centers to close this year.”

These huge losses strike at the heart of abortion infrastructure and signal a potent shift away from the popularization of abortion in American society.

“To put it plainly,” added Newman, “no one needs Planned Parenthood.”

6. Another Big Victory: Costco Won’t Sell the Abortion Pill

In another encouraging development, national retailer Costco announced it will not sell mifepristone (the abortion pill) in any of its more than 500 pharmacies across the USA. The company cited low customer demand as its primary reason.  However, many pro-life businesses, organizations, and consumers have unceasingly called for Costco to end the sale of this dangerous abortion drug in its pharmacies.

With chemical abortions currently accounting for over 60% of abortions, such a large company refusing to peddle these poisons is definitely a setback for abortion expansion–especially when that business is based in Washington, one of the most pro-abortion states in America. The trend is clear: a major change is happening. The value of life is appreciated as our nation slowly returns to recognizing the value of a single human life at its most fragile stage–in the womb.

Moving Forward

Pro-lifers have a lot to be thankful for in 2025. From the closure of abortion centers—especially high-profile ones like Prevention Park and Bleecker Street—to the growing support for defunding Planned Parenthood at multiple levels of government, and even pharmacies declining to fill abortion pill prescriptions, these developments represent real and meaningful strides forward for the pro-life movement.

Newman adds, “These are answers to prayers and the fruits of tireless work. Americans are increasingly uncomfortable with abortion, and public policy is increasingly reflecting that shift. Our work is not in vain. Each change brings us closer to a society that cherishes life and protects the most vulnerable. Let’s keep fostering that culture. Let’s keep gaining victories for the babies”.

This report may be republished with inclusion of the following acknowledgement“This article was originally published by Operation Rescue, a leading pro-life, Christian activist organization dedicated to exposing abortion abuses, demanding enforcement, saving innocent lives, and building an abortion-free America. The author, Ricardo Pinedo, writes for Operation Rescue.”