Hawley bill to end FDA approval mifepristone picks up Senate GOP support

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has introduced legislation to revoke FDA approval of mifepristone, the drug used in medication abortion, and the bill is gaining traction among Senate Republicans. Mifepristone has been FDA-approved since 2000 and is widely used in early-stage pregnancies; Hawley's measure would effectively ban its distribution across state lines. The bill represents an escalation of anti-abortion efforts beyond individual state bans, targeting the federal approval itself at a moment when the movement is prioritizing restrictions on interstate access to abortion medication. If passed, the legislation would bar pharmacies from shipping the drug across state borders, effectively preventing women in states with abortion restrictions from obtaining it elsewhere. The measure signals Republicans' intent to pursue abortion restrictions at the federal level even as they continue pursuing state-level bans.