Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has claimed a decisive victory after San Antonio capitulated and permanently shut down its taxpayer-funded abortion travel program, marking a significant win for pro-life advocates and state authority over rogue local governments.
Story Highlights
- San Antonio officially ended its $100,000 abortion travel fund after new state law Senate Bill 33 banned such programs.
- Attorney General Ken Paxton successfully forced the city to abandon its “abortion tourism” funding through legal action and legislative pressure.
- The victory demonstrates how state preemption laws can effectively stop liberal cities from undermining conservative state policies.
- Austin similarly shut down its $400,000 abortion travel fund, showing the statewide impact of the new enforcement measures.
State Law Defeats Liberal City Overreach
San Antonio’s attempt to use taxpayer dollars for out-of-state abortion travel collapsed after Texas passed Senate Bill 33, which specifically prohibits public funding for abortion “logistical support.” The city approved $100,000 in April 2025 for its Reproductive Justice Fund to help residents travel to other states for abortions. Attorney General Ken Paxton immediately sued, arguing the program violated the Texas Constitution’s gift clause by using public money for private purposes that directly contradicted state law.
VICTORY! Texas Forces San Antonio to Stop Funding Abortions https://t.co/a9ZNGSneWT pic.twitter.com/ccnmzTXgNo
— LifeNews.com (@LifeNewsHQ) January 10, 2026
Legislative Action Closes Liberal Loopholes
The Texas Legislature recognized the threat posed by liberal cities attempting to circumvent state abortion protections and responded with targeted legislation. Senate Bill 33, passed in May 2025 and signed by Governor Greg Abbott in June, created enforceable penalties against any local government using public funds for abortion logistics. The law includes private enforcement mechanisms similar to previous successful Texas abortion legislation, allowing citizens to sue violating municipalities. This approach effectively neutralized San Antonio’s defiant stance.
Courts Block Illegal Spending Programs
The newly created 15th Court of Appeals granted Paxton’s request for a temporary injunction, immediately blocking San Antonio from disbursing any of the $100,000 abortion travel funds. After SB 33 took effect in September 2025, the city informed the court it would not proceed with abortion travel funding, leading to the case’s dismissal in October. The legal victory demonstrates how conservative state leadership can use both legislative and judicial tools to prevent local governments from undermining constitutional governance.
Paxton Claims Victory Against Radical Agenda
In January 2026, Attorney General Paxton announced that San Antonio had “officially ended abortion tourism programs” and declared the outcome a defeat for “radicals” attempting to use taxpayer money inappropriately. The city attorney disputed Paxton’s characterization, claiming the state had simply dropped its case, but the practical result remains unchanged. San Antonio can no longer legally fund abortion travel under state law, and any future attempts would face immediate civil lawsuits from private citizens empowered by SB 33.
This victory extends beyond San Antonio, as Austin similarly shuttered its own $400,000 abortion logistics fund following SB 33’s passage. The success demonstrates how conservative state governments can effectively use preemption laws and targeted enforcement to prevent liberal cities from implementing policies that contradict state values and constitutional principles.
Watch the report: Ken Paxton claiming legal win against City of San Antonio
Sources:
- San Antonio ends its abortion travel fund after new state law, legal action
- City of San Antonio shuts down its abortion travel fund
- San Antonio gave up abortion travel funding months ago; AG Paxton claiming victory now
