The Trump administration on Monday moved to dismiss a case from Missouri, Idaho, and Kansas challenging the FDA’s deregulation of abortion drugs.
The Department of Justice, under Trump, didn’t address the case’s details but argued that these states lacked the standing to sue in a Texas court, claiming the case should be relocated.
“This court cannot proceed with the state’s claims, irrespective of their validity,” the DOJ filing stated. “The states may pursue their claims in the appropriate district, but any claim in this court must be dismissed or moved according to the venue law.”
This lawsuit began in November 2022, sparked by Pro-Life doctors aiming to halt the FDA from loosening safety regulations on Mifepristone, the first medication in a two-drug abortion process. The Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit in June 2024, ruling the doctors had no legal standing.
This decision opened the door for Missouri, Idaho, and Kansas to file their legal challenges, harnessing support from anti-abortion advocates in their ongoing opposition to the medication.
The suit seeks to extend the time frame for a woman to use abortion medications from 7 to 10 weeks of pregnancy, following the FDA’s prior legal actions, and to ensure mifepristone could be accessed through mail-order services established in 2021.
Read more: Exclusive – Alarming data suggests abortion drug complications are 22 times higher than earlier reported: “Stricter safety measures from the FDA are essential.”
Mifepristone—also marketed as Mifeprex, created by Danko Research Institute—works by blocking progesterone, which is crucial for maintaining pregnancy. This blockage leads to the deterioration of the uterine lining, effectively cutting off the nutrients to the developing fetus, which then ceases to thrive. The subsequent medication, misoprostol (also known as Cytotec), induces contractions to expel the fetus.
By 2023, medication abortions made up 63% of all abortions within the formal U.S. healthcare system, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Approximately 642,700 medication abortions were recorded, rising from 53% in 2020 and 39% in 2017. This report does not account for abortions conducted outside formal systems, particularly those networks supplying pills to women in states with abortion restrictions.
The case is Missouri vs. FDA No. 2:22-CV-223 US District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
