Planned Parenthood president forced out after only 8 months

By David Crary The Associated Press

5 years ago

FILE - In this Tuesday, May 21, 2019 file photo, Planned Parenthood President Leana Wen speaks ... — FILE – In this Tuesday, May 21, 2019 file photo, Planned Parenthood President Leana Wen speaks during a protest against abortion bans outside the Supreme Court in Washington. On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Wen, who became the president in November 2018, was forced out of her job. In a statement posted on Twitter, she said she had "philosophical differences" with the new chairs of Planned Parenthood’s board regarding abortion politics. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

NEW YORK — Planned Parenthood’s president has been forced out of her job after only eight months as the organization faces unprecedented challenges related to its role as the leading abortion provider in the United States.

Dr. Leana Wen said Tuesday in a statement posted on Twitter that she had “philosophical differences” with the new chairs of Planned Parenthood’s board regarding abortion politics.

Wen said that abortion is “not a political issue but a health care one.”

She said the board ended her employment at a secret meeting.

Her departure comes as the Trump administration announced it would start enforcing new rules that ban taxpayer-funded family planning clinics referring women for abortions.

Planned Parenthood, the largest recipient of those funds, says it will not abide by those rules.

The organization thanked Wen for her service in a tweet.