Senator Hawley urges nationwide ban on abortion pill, cites safety concerns

Senator Josh Hawley, addressing the Family Research Council’s Pray Vote Stand Summit at Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Virginia, urged a nationwide ban on the abortion medication mifepristone and pressed the FDA to finalize a long-delayed safety study. He asserted that the drug kills the unborn child in virtually every use and can lead to life-threatening complications for the patient in more than one in ten cases, accusing manufacturers of prioritizing profit over safety.

Hawley referenced the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act, introduced earlier this year, which would revoke the FDA’s approval of the drug. He criticized the Biden administration’s policy that eliminated in-person dispensing requirements, enabling mail delivery of the pills and undermining state abortion bans. The senator noted that the pending confirmation of FDA Commissioner-nominee Dr. Heidi Overton offers an opportunity to restore stricter safeguards, echoing a recent statement from 50 pro-life leaders. The push comes amid reports that the FDA’s comprehensive review has been postponed until after the 2026 midterms.