On Tuesday, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE), which includes Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, announced the closing of another of its abortion facilities. In recent years, the abortion corporation has closed multiple facilities in the area.
“Today, we are sharing some difficult news,” PPNNE wrote on Facebook. “After careful consideration, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) has made the decision to permanently close our St. Johnsbury, VT health center. Our last day of operation will be June 3, 2025. We understand that this news may be upsetting. We are still committed to ensuring St. Johnsbury patients have other options.”
In a press release, PPNNE cited “numerous operational challenges in providing reproductive and sexual health care services in St. Johnsbury.” It also noted the “devastating flood” that occurred in July 2024 and “inadequate reimbursement rates for services provided…”
Vermont has no restrictions on abortion, which is legal at any time during pregnancy for any reason. Vermont does give PPNNE state funding, though Maine and New Hampshire do not. In August, PPNNE announced that it had projected an $8.6 million deficit over the next three years and warned that facility closings were likely.
PPNNE is not alone; other abortion-supportive states have seen closures. Planned Parenthood of Illinois recently closed four of its facilities in the state — one of them located in a prominent college town. Planned Parenthood of Greater New York recently announced plans to close its flagship Manhattan facility on Bleecker Street. And Planned Parenthood of Michigan intends to close three facilities.
In 2022, PPNNE announced the closing of five of its facilities in Vermont and New Hampshire. It currently has 15 facilities remaining across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. According to 2023 data, across the three states, there were 622,511 women of reproductive age (15-44), and PPNNE served just 32,000 of them — five percent (5%) of that population.
Planned Parenthood does not plan to lay off any staff with this closure, and is directing patients to its other locations or different health care organizations altogether.
