The Justice Department notified a federal court on November 8, 2026, that it will intervene in Texas's lawsuit against Planned Parenthood over more than $10 million in Medicaid payments. The case is now drawing the federal government into a dispute Texas joined in 2022 and is pursuing under U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk.
November 8, 2026 notice
Texas is seeking more than $1.8 billion in reimbursement, penalties and fees in the lawsuit, which accuses Planned Parenthood of improperly billing Medicaid while Texas was trying to kick the organization from the payment program. The case is expected to go to trial next year, and both sides have jointly proposed an April 2027 trial start date.
Nathan Johnson reviews intervention
Nathan Johnson, the Texas attorney general-elect, said he is reviewing the federal intervention closely. “We are reviewing this action closely, including what it means for Texans and what the law allows,” he said Sunday. “When I take office as Attorney General, I will take appropriate action in the interests of my state.”
Johnson's election last week means he will inherit the case when he takes office, while Ken Paxton leaves office after losing his bid for the U.S. Senate. Paxton's office did not immediately provide comment.
Planned Parenthood fights back
Planned Parenthood called the lawsuit meritless. Susan Baker Manning, senior vice president for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said, “The Trump administration has spent two years trying to shut down Planned Parenthood through legislative, administrative, and legal attacks.” She added, “Now, they are going to use the Department of Justice to try again.”
The federal intervention puts the Justice Department alongside Texas in a case that already carries more than $1.8 billion in claims and could shape how the court handles the Medicaid billing dispute before trial. How the Justice Department's intervention will change the course of the case is not explained.
