Scrutiny of Mifepristone Announced by Trump Administration
The abortion drug mifepristone is set to be reviewed by the Trump administration, as stated by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. They promised to examine the drug’s safety and effectiveness in a letter dated September 19, acknowledging decades of loosened safeguards under previous administrations.
This letter follows requests from 22 state attorneys general who raised concerns about new studies indicating higher rates of adverse reactions than those documented when the drug was first approved. One significant study from the Ethics and Public Policy Center revealed that nearly 11% of women taking mifepristone faced serious side effects, such as sepsis, infection, and hemorrhaging.
Kennedy and Makary’s message showed sensitivity to the concerns expressed by these state officials. They noted, “The concerns you have raised in your letter merit close examination,” assuring that women’s health will be prioritized in assessing mifepristone’s distribution.
Despite this, the Trump administration has generally attempted to distance itself from the “culture war” surrounding abortion, advocating for state-level decision-making post-Dobbs decision. However, the federal policy, largely patterned after the approvals made by the FDA, continues to lack safety measures, like ultrasounds to screen for ectopic pregnancies.
Currently, the administration backs a federal policy that has allowed some abortion providers, particularly in pro-abortion states like New York, to ship mifepristone to women in areas with stricter laws after just a telehealth consultation. An August report indicated that a substantial proportion—84%—of these shipped pills are sent to pro-life states.
It seems the Trump administration has not fully disengaged from the debate as anticipated. Its inaction effectively maintains the Biden-era policies that have facilitated the use of mifepristone against state laws aimed at preserving unborn lives. A truly “abortion-neutral” policy would require reversing previous measures that stripped safeguards from the abortion pill.
Pro-life advocates have been vocal about the need for the Trump administration to shift away from the previous administration’s interference with state laws. Recently, Baptist leaders called for immediate action to halt the mail-order distribution of mifepristone, citing the potential serious risks to women, particularly when not accompanied by required screenings. The concerns raised by state attorneys general reinforce calls for better safety regulations regarding the drug.
Initially, Commissioner Makary was hesitant to commit to reviewing mifepristone. Back in April, he remarked there were no immediate plans to limit access to the drug, though he couldn’t rule out actions based on new data. Following the EPPC study highlighting a concerning number of adverse effects, Kennedy admitted that a review was warranted.
Congressional members continued to urge action, and by June, Makary assured he was committed to examining mifepristone in collaboration with professional career scientists. This recent communication to the attorneys general underscores the strongest commitment from the Trump administration thus far, as they plan to evaluate the current safety protocols surrounding mifepristone’s usage.
Unsurprisingly, organizations like the National Abortion Federation criticized this commitment, disparaging the EPPC study while questioning the FDA’s review process. Mainstream media outlets followed suit, often framing the review process with skepticism, which may inadvertently support the necessity for such an assessment.
Ultimately, if mifepristone poses risks, perhaps it shouldn’t be available in the market at all; that’s what the FDA’s review process is intended to address. Pro-life advocates are eager for the FDA to undertake a genuine review of the available data on the abortion drug, which they believe highlights its dangers, especially in unrestricted circumstances.
