Ken Paxton Wins Fight Over Taxpayer-Funded Abortion Travel

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has secured a legal victory against the City of San Antonio after the city used taxpayer funds to finance travel for women seeking out-of-state abortions, a move Paxton argues violated Texas law.

The legal battle centered on San Antonio's creation of a $100,000 "Reproductive Justice Fund," which was designed to assist residents with travel and related expenses for abortions obtained outside Texas.

Ken Paxton's office challenged the program, asserting that it unlawfully directed public funds toward abortion related activities.

"Texans respect the sanctity of unborn life, and I will always do everything in my power to prevent radicals from manipulating the system to murder innocent babies," said Ken Paxton. "It is illegal for cities to fund abortion tourism with taxpayer funds. San Antonio's unlawful attempt to cover the travel and other expenses for out-of-state abortions has now officially been defeated."

Paxton's legal challenge coincided with the passage of Senate Bill 33 during the 88th Texas Legislature. The law explicitly prohibits governmental entities from using taxpayer dollars to pay for abortion procedures or abortion related travel, lodging, or logistical support.

According to the Office of the Attorney General, the legislation clarified and strengthened existing prohibitions, leaving little room for local governments to create workarounds.

Following Paxton's legal actions and the enactment of SB 33, San Antonio formally ended its abortion travel assistance program and stopped allocating funds for that purpose. The attorney general's office described the city's decision as a capitulation that affirms the state's authority to enforce abortion-related funding restrictions.

The case underscores the ongoing tension between Texas state leadership and local governments over abortion policy in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

While some cities have sought to expand abortion access through indirect measures, state officials have moved aggressively to block those efforts.

Paxton said his office will continue monitoring local governments to ensure compliance with Texas law, warning that similar programs in other jurisdictions would face the same swift legal action.