Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards is reportedly stepping down
Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards will reportedly be stepping down from her role after more than a decade. Richards joined the organization in 2006. According to NBC News, a Planned Parenthood spokesperson declined to confirm Richards’ departure but said in an email statement that Richards “plans to discuss 2018 and the next steps for Planned Parenthood’s future at the upcoming board meeting.”
Richards’ departure comes at an uncertain time for the abortion rights movement, as the Trump administration has worked to defund Planned Parenthood under the new GOP bill and tighten restrictions on abortion.
Richards’ tenure with Planned Parenthood has been widely credited for the expansion of the organization’s prominence, as Democrats have embraced abortion rights into their platform and celebrities have aided in high-profile campaigns to shift public understanding of abortion. The organization has also been criticized due to the release of secret video by David Daleiden, an anti-abortion activist, which accused the organization of selling fetal tissues.
Richards’ departure from Planned Parenthood was originally reported on BuzzFeed. Further information is expected to follow.