The United States is facing renewed concern over maternal health after policy proposals linked to President Donald Trump target major healthcare programs while expanding funding for unregulated pregnancy centers.
There is a warning that the changes could worsen an already critical situation. According to a recent opinion article published in TIME, more than 85% of maternal deaths in the U.S. are preventable, yet access to essential care remains uneven.
The proposals include eliminating or reducing funding for programs such as Title X, Healthy Start, and maternal health initiatives under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
These programs are designed to support prenatal care, family planning, and infant health.
During a recent Senate hearing, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended the budget cuts as part of efforts to reduce federal spending.
Medicaid coverage under threat
The proposed policy shifts also place pressure on Medicaid, which finances more than 40% of births nationwide. The program is especially critical in rural areas and among low-income families.
According to TIME’s report, there is a warning that planned reforms could leave millions without coverage in the coming years. Previous state-level changes have shown that administrative requirements can lead to eligible individuals losing access to care.
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In recent years, most U.S. states expanded postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months to address maternal mortality. Those gains could now be reversed if funding is reduced.
At the same time, access to early prenatal care is already declining. Data shows that Black and Hispanic women are less likely to receive timely care compared to white women, increasing the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
Shift toward unregulated pregnancy centers
While funding for established healthcare programs faces cuts, public money is increasingly being directed toward crisis pregnancy centers, also known as unregulated pregnancy centers.
These centers often present themselves as medical facilities but are not required to meet the same licensing or clinical standards. According to the TIME article, there were more than 2,600 such centers operating in the U.S. in 2024, outnumbering abortion providers.
Funding has largely been channeled through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which was originally designed to provide financial support to low-income families. Reports indicate that about $1.3 billion in government grants flowed to these centers between 2019 and 2024.
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Oversight agencies have raised concerns about how the funds are used, citing limited transparency and weak accountability measures. Critics argue that many of these centers do not provide prenatal care or referrals, which may delay access to proper medical services.
Why this matters
The debate reflects broader concerns about maternal health outcomes in the United States, which already has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries.
Health experts say the combination of reduced funding for clinical care and increased support for unregulated services could widen existing disparities. Low-income communities and women of color are expected to be most affected.
Shifting resources away from evidence-based healthcare may lead to preventable complications and deaths. As policymakers continue to debate budget priorities, the direction of maternal health policy is likely to have lasting consequences for millions of women and children.
