Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called for a comprehensive review of the abortion drug mifepristone, citing serious concerns that the current prescription labeling fails to adequately warn women of the risks. The move comes in response to a newly released study that suggests the dangers of the drug are far greater than the FDA has previously acknowledged.
The study, based on over 865,000 insurance claims from 2017 to 2023, found that nearly 11% of women who used mifepristone experienced significant complications—ranging from hemorrhaging and sepsis to infections. That figure is a sharp contrast to the FDA’s official estimate of just 0.5% for serious adverse events.
During a Senate hearing this week, Kennedy described the findings as “alarming” and said the review would determine whether the FDA needs to revise the drug’s safety labeling, restrictions, or even its continued approval. “Our responsibility is to ensure that every American has accurate information about medical risks,” Kennedy stated. “The public deserves transparency—not political spin—when it comes to their health.”
Mifepristone, initially approved by the FDA in 2000, has been at the center of controversy for years. Under prior administrations, access was expanded through mail-order prescriptions and telemedicine appointments—policies hailed by abortion advocates but criticized by pro-life groups and medical professionals concerned about safety and oversight.
While some abortion advocates have dismissed the latest study as politically motivated, pointing to its lack of peer review, Kennedy isn’t backing down. He emphasized that the review is about facts, not ideology. “We have a duty to examine new data when it raises red flags. Ignoring it would be irresponsible.”
The study has reignited debate over whether the abortion industry, aided by lax federal oversight, has downplayed the dangers of chemical abortion in favor of broader access. Critics argue that the Biden-era FDA was more concerned with expanding abortion access than protecting patients, especially young and vulnerable women.
The FDA review ordered by Kennedy could have major implications for how mifepristone is prescribed, regulated, and possibly restricted in the future. As the political battle over abortion continues, the Trump administration is making it clear that safety and science—not activism—will guide federal health policy.
This is a bold move by RFK Jr., and one that could mark a turning point in the national conversation around abortion drugs. For the first time in years, the FDA is being told to follow the facts—even if they lead to uncomfortable truths.