Article Summary –
During a Senate Committee hearing, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that President Trump had requested him to assess the safety of the abortion drug mifepristone, despite its approval by the FDA over 20 years ago and its increased use for medication abortions in the U.S. Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan criticized Kennedy for potentially prioritizing Trump’s directives over established scientific evidence, which shows mifepristone’s safety and effectiveness. Meanwhile, Kennedy’s past comments and misinformation about abortion and other health issues, along with his willingness to sign a federal ban on abortions after the first trimester, have drawn criticism from reproductive rights advocates and praise from conservative groups.
During a recent hearing on his nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that President Donald Trump had asked him to examine the safety of the abortion drug mifepristone.
“He has not yet determined how to regulate it,” Kennedy mentioned at the Senate Committee on Finance hearing. “Whatever he decides, I will implement those policies.”
Mifepristone, studied extensively, was approved by the FDA over 20 years ago. The Guttmacher Institute reported in 2024 that 63% of all U.S. abortions in 2023 used medications, a 10% rise since 2020.
In combination with misoprostol, mifepristone is part of a two-step nonsurgical abortion method, often prescribed via telehealth, even to patients in states with strict abortion laws.
During the hearing, Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire referenced Kennedy’s comment on Trump’s request to study mifepristone, highlighting safety studies that confirm its effectiveness. She criticized Kennedy’s readiness to follow orders that could restrict access to essential health care.
The conservative group Americans United for Life praised Kennedy’s hearing appearance. “We received clear signals that the prolife movement can work with RFK Junior,” John Mize wrote on X.
Post-hearing, Alexis McGill Johnson, Planned Parenthood Action Fund president, stated: “Kennedy’s stance against abortion rights is disappointing. The real tragedy is the health crisis worsened by Trump’s policies and RFK Jr.’s potential actions.”
In April 2024, Kennedy expressed concerns about mifepristone’s risks in an interview, emphasizing informed choice but clarified he would not remove abortion medications from pharmacies.
Kennedy has a history of spreading misleading information on abortion, vaccines, HIV, and COVID-19.
In June 2024, Kennedy repeated debunked abortion misinformation in a Facebook video, suggesting elective late-term abortions occur. In a 2023 NBC News interview, he supported a federal ban on abortions after three months.
On Feb. 4, the Finance Committee voted to advance Kennedy’s nomination to the full Senate. He requires all but three Republican votes if lacking Senate Democrats’ support. Vice President J.D. Vance would break a tie if necessary.
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