(PRESS RELEASE) President Donald Trump today indicated he will appoint anti-choice activist Teresa Manning to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  In this role, Manning will oversee the $286 million Title X federal family planning program and help set national policy around family planning, contraception, and teen pregnancy. Manning–who has been a vocal advocate against federal funding for reproductive health care services and has advocated against access to abortion and contraception–previously worked at two high-profile anti-abortion groups, the National Right to Life Committee and the Family Research Council. Her appointment comes just days after the Trump administration appointed prominent anti-abortion activist Charmaine Yoest to HHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.

Said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights: 

“Teresa Manning has made a career out of denying women their right to reproductive health care services.  It’s unconscionable and insulting that a vocal opponent of essential health care services has been tapped to lead the nation’s family planning program.

“From her false claims about contraceptive effectiveness to calling abortion a ‘legalized crime,’ Manning is frightening choice to oversee federal reproductive health care policy.

“President Trump continues to show he will prioritize an extreme agenda over women’s health and well-being. The Center for Reproductive Rights will fight to ensure every woman can access critical reproductive health care services, free from political interference.”   

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