Title of the planned family Title X: The organization leaves the program of title X and rejects the abortion "order gag"

Planned Parenthood said all of its clinics would officially leave Title X, the leading federal program dedicated to providing birth control to low-income women. An amendment to the program last year requires recipients to comply with what is called a "gag order" on abortion services – something that Planned Parenthood has said it does not want make. The exit of the clinic will result in a loss of millions of dollars from the federal government.

Monday, at a teleconference with reporters, the new head of Planned Parenthood, Alexis McGill Johnson, announced that all affiliates of the clinic would send letters Monday to the Department of Health and Social Services, officially announcing their resignation of Title X. She warned that without Planned Parenthood, low-income women in rural areas would have struggling to find a child affordable control options.

"For too many people who are struggling to make ends meet, they may come out worry-free," Johnson said.

The leaders of Planned Parenthood refused to specify the amount of income lost by the organization due to their departure. "Our position is that it's not about Planned Parenthood's budget, but about our patients," Johnson said.

Title X was created in 1970 to provide affordable reproductive care for women who would not otherwise be able to afford it. Last year, more than four million people resorted to Title X for health services, of which 41% received services at Planned Parenthood, according to the clinic.

Title X funds have never been allowed to pay for abortions. Instead, the money is used for wellness reviews, STD and HIV screenings, birth control and contraceptive education, according to Planned Parenthood. The anti-abortion rights advocates argue that any money given to Planned Parenthood – even if it's not used for abortions – releases funds for the procedure.

But in February, a 312-page Ministry of Health and Social Services filing proposed what abortion advocates have called a "gag rule." In its proposal, the agency wrote that "none of the funds earmarked for Title X can be used in programs where abortion is a method of family planning". The changes have an impact not only on family planning, but on all clinics that support, perform or even refer patients to abortion services.

Under the new rule, recipients of Title X funds may refer to abortion as an option for pregnant women, but they are not allowed to refer them to an abortion provider.

Mia Heck, a senior adviser to the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement sent by email to CBS News on Monday afternoon that Title X recipients would not have had to accept the funds if the organizations were not comfortable with the so-called "gag rule". "

"Some recipients now blame the government for its own actions – having chosen to accept the grant without complying with the rules that accompany it – and abandoning their obligations to serve their patients under the program," said Heck. .

In an exclusive interview with CBS News in July, Johnson said his organization would fight the changes underway – and was confident in his victory.

"We believe that it is extremely important to advocate for our patients," said Johnson, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. "We identify all the strategies – all on deck – to try to identify the best strategies to ensure that we can maintain and keep our doors open to our patients, whatever that may be."

The anti-abortion rights advocates argue that any money given to Planned Parenthood – even if it's not used for abortions – releases funds for the procedure.

"Abortion is neither health care, nor family planning, and taxpayers' money should not support abortion," said Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life, in a statement sent by email to CBS News Monday afternoon. "Leana Wen's recent decision on layoffs and family planning is now dedicated to her ultimate goal of advocating for the rights of political abortion and not health."