What happens now that abortion pills can't be blocked yet

The Supreme Court has temporarily let people access the abortion pill mifepristone through telehealth visits and the mail. This drug, used in most US abortions today, works by blocking a pregnancy hormone and is usually taken with another pill to complete the process. It got initial approval in 2000 and later expanded to be safer for use up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. A recent FDA rule removed the old in-person requirement, letting patients skip the clinic visit entirely. But several states with strict abortion laws aren’t happy about this. Louisiana tried to sue the FDA, saying their review didn’t go far enough before making changes. Other states like Texas and Florida are pushing even harder, asking courts to undo the drug’s original approval from 25 years ago.

Not everyone wants to block the pills though. Some medical groups argue the extra rules—like making doctors and pharmacies get special certification—are unnecessary since the drug has proven safe. A Hawaii judge recently called out the FDA for not properly explaining these rules, but they’re still in place for now. The bigger fight could come from states that already ban abortion. Some have passed new laws where anyone can sue people who send or receive abortion pills, even across state lines. Federal courts will soon decide if these new state laws even matter when the federal government has already approved the drug.

Actions