Republicans Call on FDA to Reverse Biden's ‘Mail-Order Abortion Scheme'
A coalition of 175 House Republicans, spearheaded by Representatives Chris Smith and Diana Harshbarger, has urged the FDA and HHS to retract the Biden administration's 2021 policy that allowed abortion pills to be mailed without in-person dispensing. This demand follows a study indicating that severe complications from mifepristone, a key abortion drug, are significantly higher than previously reported, prompting concerns over women's safety. The lawmakers argue that the mail-order scheme undermines state pro-life laws and lacks necessary medical oversight, calling for urgent investigations and reinstatement of previous safeguards. With medication abortions now constituting 63% of all U.S. abortions, the letter signals increasing political pressure on federal health agencies to reevaluate abortion medication policies and ensure women's health protections.
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The letter from GOP lawmakers highlights a study from the Ethics and Public Policy Center, revealing that 10.93% of women who had mifepristone abortions experienced severe complications, compared to less than 0.5% in clinical trials.
In 2023, medication abortions accounted for 63% of all abortions, representing an increase from 53% in 2020 and 39% in 2017, indicating a significant trend towards reliance on medication over surgical procedures.
Lawmakers have criticized the Biden administration's policy as a 'mail-order abortion scheme' that bypasses state laws designed to protect unborn children, allowing abortion pills to be sent into states with stricter regulations.
The letter calls for Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Commissioner Marty Makary to act swiftly, suggesting the reinstatement of in-person dispensing requirements for mifepristone and an expedited safety review by the FDA.
The FDA's recent approval of a generic version of mifepristone in September 2025 has also fueled concerns among Republican lawmakers about the implications for women's health and safety.
The ongoing safety review by FDA and HHS is part of a broader response to rising concerns over the safety of abortion pills amid reports of coercion and abuse linked to their use.