By Jordan King
Copyright newsweek
Several Republican figures have spoken out against the Donald Trump administration’s approval of an abortion pill, with former Vice President Mike Pence calling it a “complete betrayal of the pro-life movement.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light to a new generic version of mifepristone on Tuesday, Drugmaker Evita Solutions announced on its website.
Pence is one of multiple conservatives who have criticized the move—he called on Trump to reverse the decision.
Newsweek has contacted the FDA and Evita Solutions, via email, for comment.
Why It Matters
The decision has ignited intense backlash from Republican lawmakers and anti-abortion groups, highlighting the enduring divisiveness of abortion policy in the United States.
It comes amid ongoing legal and political battles over reproductive rights and federal drug approval authority.
Mifepristone, first approved in 2000, is used in combination with misoprostol for medication abortions, a method accounting for the majority of abortions nationwide.
The FDA’s action not only stokes political tensions but also underscores the complexities of drug regulation where ideological and medical considerations intersect.
A file photo shows boxes of the drug mifepristone on a shelf at the West Alabama Women’s Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama,, on March 16, 2022.
What People Are Saying
Pence, who has repeatedly criticized Trump in the aftermath of the January 6 riots, said in a post on X: “The Trump Administration’s approval of a generic chemical abortion drug is a complete betrayal of the pro-life movement that elected President Trump.
“Earlier this year, I opposed RFK’s nomination because he was unfit for the role and particularly over the concern that he would expand access to abortion, as he has done today.
“President Trump must immediately reverse this decision. RFK must resign and give President Trump the opportunity to appoint a new Secretary of HHS who will protect the sanctity of life. The fight for life continues.”
Missouri Republican U.S. Senator Josh Hawley said on X: “This is shocking. FDA has just approved ANOTHER chemical abortion drug, when the evidence shows chemical abortion drugs are dangerous and even deadly for the mother. And of course 100% lethal to the child.
“FDA had promised to do a top-to-bottom safety review of the chemical abortion drug, but instead they’ve just greenlighted new versions of it for distribution. I have lost confidence in the leadership at FDA.”
Oklahoma Republican Congressman Josh Brecheen said: “The FDA just approved the generic counterpart for mifepristone, the abortion pill. Abortion is one of the defining evils of our time, and we must acknowledge that it is murder in every form. 1 in 10 women who take the abortion pill face serious complications, at a rate 22x higher than initially reported by the FDA. How can this be considered safe for unborn children or women?”
Prominent anti-abortion activist Lila Rose said: “UNACCEPTABLE: The FDA just approved another generic of the abortion pill mifepristone. This drug starves babies and harms mothers! The FDA just said it would do a new serious safety study—so why approve a another generic now? Robert Kennedy Jr. must reverse this decision!”
Reproductive Freedom for All account posted on X: “The FDA approved a new generic version of mifepristone, a pill that has been safely and effectively used in abortion and miscarriage care for over two decades. Thank you to the civil servants who made this happen.”
What To Know
In a letter to Republican attorneys general last month, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary pledged to conduct a full review of mifepristone, which was approved 25 years ago and has repeatedly been deemed safe and effective by FDA scientists.
Generic approvals are usually considered routine. After the patent on the original drug expires, multiple drugmakers often enter the market with cheaper versions. To receive approval, companies must demonstrate that their product is chemically identical to the original. In most cases, such reviews are completed within 10 months.
But Evita’s application took far longer. According to FDA filings, the company submitted its request four years ago. The FDA did not explain the delay.
What Happens Next
Approval of Evita’s pill is not expected to significantly alter access to mifepristone. The medication is typically prescribed with misoprostol, a second drug that causes the uterus to contract and empty. Together, the two drugs account for roughly two-thirds of U.S. abortions. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone and softens the cervix to prepare the body for expulsion.
