In a court filing, the agency said the Jindal administration hasn't offered "sufficient reasons" to keep Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast's clinics in New Orleans and Baton Rouge from receiving Medicaid payments.
Removing Planned Parenthood from the Medicaid program "without providing any justification related to [the organization's] qualifications to provide medical services would violate Louisiana's obligations under the Medicaid statute's 'free choice of provider' provision," the Justice Department wrote.
The legal brief, called a "statement of interest," was filed Monday night ahead of a Wednesday hearing to determine whether Planned Parenthood will get a temporary restraining order blocking Jindal's efforts.
Jindal, a Republican presidential candidate, announced this month that he was cutting off funding to the Planned Parenthood clinics, citing hidden-camera videos that accuse the organization of profiting from fetal tissue sales after abortions.
Planned Parenthood denies the allegations, saying the videos are heavily edited and misleading. The organization filed a lawsuit seeking to stay in Louisiana's Medicaid program, arguing that Jindal's decision would limit health services in violation of federal law.
