SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Aug. 14, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah’s Governor Gary Herbert is taking action against Planned Parenthood.

The Republican governor issued an executive order late Friday afternoon ordering state agencies to stop acting as conduits for federal funds earmarked for the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah.

Governor Herbert’s decision comes in response to clandestinely recorded videos taken by an anti-abortion group while Planned Parenthood employees from Houston, Texas described the harvesting and sale of aborted fetal tissues to medical researchers.

Governor Herbert’s official statement is as follows:

The allegations against Planned Parenthood are deeply troubling. Current Utah state law prohibits the use of state funds to provide abortions by Planned Parenthood or any other organization. The federal government has provided grants to Planned Parenthood, distributed through the Utah Department of Health. These funds are also prohibited from being used to perform abortions. In light of ongoing concerns about the organization, I have instructed state agencies to cease acting as an intermediary for pass-through federal funds to Planned Parenthood.

Other state and local agencies and nonprofits will continue to provide STD education and prevention programs.

VIDEO: Planned Parenthood Response: