Hawley Introduces Bill to Ban Abortion Pill Mifepristone, Revoke FDA Approval
At a Capitol Hill news conference featuring testimonies from women harmed by the drug, Hawley stated, "It is time for Congress to ban the use of mifepristone for abortion," describing it as "inherently dangerous and inherently prone to abuse."
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act on March 11, 2026, aiming to ban mifepristone for abortion use and withdraw its FDA approval granted in 2000.
At a Capitol Hill news conference featuring testimonies from women harmed by the drug, Hawley stated, "It is time for Congress to ban the use of mifepristone for abortion," describing it as "inherently dangerous and inherently prone to abuse." He emphasized Congress's role in regulating interstate drugs and allowing survivors to sue manufacturers.
The bill prohibits distributing or labeling mifepristone for abortion under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and permits private lawsuits. Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) will introduce companion legislation in the House.
Mifepristone, used with misoprostol, accounted for nearly two-thirds of U.S. abortions in 2023, per the Guttmacher Institute. The FDA maintains its safety under regulated conditions, but a 2025 Ethics and Public Policy Center report cited 11% serious adverse events in 865,727 prescriptions from 2017-2023—far exceeding the label's estimate.
Marjorie Dannenfelser of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America praised the bill for addressing "politicized FDA approval."
This follows Hawley's prior efforts, including 2025 legislation to reinstate safety regulations, a 2024 Supreme Court dismissal of challenges for lack of standing, and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s ongoing FDA safety review. Missouri voters will consider repealing 2024 abortion-rights measures in November 2026.