‘This is not a decision we wanted to make’: Planned Parenthood closing in Louisiana after more than 40 years

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Planned Parenthood is closing its doors in Louisiana. The health care provider has been in the state since 1984.

“All Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast (PPGC) services including patient navigation, will cease after Sept. 30,” said Abby Ledoux, Vice President of Communications for Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.

That means the Baton Rouge location at 3825 Government Street and the New Orleans location at 4636 S. Claiborne Avenue will be shutting down after more than 40 years.

According to Ledoux, during that time, PPGC “provided expert sexual and reproductive health care, education, and advocacy for Louisianans across the state.”

Included in those services were cancer screenings, birth control, HIV, Pap and HPV tests, pregnancy testing, gender-affirming care, miscarriage management, ultrasounds, and assistance for out-of-state abortions, Ledoux said.

Melaney Linton, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, released the following statement about the upcoming closure.

“For 40 years, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast (PPGC) has delivered trusted, compassionate health care to people of all backgrounds, identities, and income levels across Louisiana. The care we’ve provided through extraordinary obstacles has changed and saved lives, and we are deeply proud of that legacy.

“In a challenging landscape for all health care providers, and in spite of deep community support for our mission and services, coordinated and sustained political attacks and an increasingly hostile judiciary have blocked our ability to continue serving Louisianans. As a direct result of relentless political assaults, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast will close our two Louisiana health centers and wind down operations in the state on September 30, 2025.

“This is not a decision we wanted to make; it is one we were forced into by political warfare. Anti-reproductive health lawmakers obsessed with power and control have spent decades fighting the concept that people deserve to control their own bodies. These extremists have done everything they can to ‘defund’ Planned Parenthood, dismantle public health infrastructure, and block patients from the care they rely on. This cruelty and failed leadership are the reasons we are here today.

“We are not the first Planned Parenthood affiliate to face this reality, and we will not be the last. As many as 200 health centers across the country are at risk of closure if the attempt to ‘defund’ Planned Parenthood by the Trump administration and its backers in Congress is successful. Every health center closure, every patient who goes without care, every undetected cancer and untreated infection is on those lawmakers’ hands.

“Our doors remain open until September 30, and patients can continue coming to PPGC for their care as all services, hours, and locations remain unchanged until then. We will do everything in our power to support Louisiana patients through this transition and connect them to care moving forward.”

Ledoux said, according to available data, Planned Parenthood had almost 18,000 visits for over 10,600 patients in the state last year.

Governor Jeff Landry wrote about the decision on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Landry said, “This is a major win for the pro-life movement here in Louisiana. I have fought hard as Attorney General and now as Governor to rid our state of this failed organization. Abortion should NEVER be considered healthcare.”

Attorney General Liz Murrill issued a statement.

“This is welcome news. Planned Parenthood built its business around promoting death. Louisiana chooses life. We will always protect women and babies,” Murrill said.

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