Antiabortion leaders turn on Trump over abortion pill policy
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 4
Antiabortion leaders turn on Trump over abortion pill policy
10 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 4
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America says it will spend $160m in the midterms and 2028 primary, backing candidates who support national antiabortion action.
Leaders say the administration kept Biden-era mifepristone mail-order rules, approved a new generic version and sought to pause or dismiss Republican-led lawsuits over access.
Their anger challenges Trump's states-first abortion stance despite Roe's reversal, though a federal appeals court on Friday backed Louisiana by blocking mail prescriptions without in-person visits.
With federal courts and agencies in conflict, what is the future of medication access by mail for millions of Americans?
Why does a 20-year-old pill's safety review require a new data system that will not be ready until 2027?
The 60% Battle: How Medication Abortion Divided the GOP and Pro-Life Allies in 2025-2026
Overview
Between 2025 and 2026, the FDA's approval of a second generic mifepristone sparked fierce condemnation from anti-abortion leaders, leading to political pressure that prompted a safety review. In response, Louisiana filed a lawsuit to reinstate in-person dispensing, escalating legal battles that culminated in a federal court putting the case on hold. Meanwhile, President Trump's call for flexibility on the Hyde Amendment alarmed activists, who also rejected his state-level approach to abortion policy. This growing disillusionment among anti-abortion leaders threatens Republican voter turnout and fuels calls for stronger federal action to restrict medication abortion access, highlighting deep tensions within the pro-life movement and the GOP coalition.