Texas Judge Allows Republican-Led States to Challenge Abortion Pill Regulations

The ruling permits Idaho, Kansas, and Missouri to proceed with a lawsuit targeting FDA policies on mifepristone, potentially reshaping access to medication abortions nationwide.

A federal judge in Texas ruled that Idaho, Kansas, and Missouri can continue a lawsuit challenging FDA regulations on the abortion pill mifepristone.
The states aim to restrict mifepristone's use to the first seven weeks of pregnancy and require three in-person doctor visits for prescriptions, reversing current FDA policies allowing telehealth and mail access.
Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, rejected arguments that the case should be dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction, stating the venue issue would be addressed later in litigation.
The lawsuit follows a Supreme Court decision last year dismissing a similar case brought by anti-abortion activists due to lack of legal standing.
Medication abortions, which account for over two-thirds of U.S. abortions, could face significant restrictions if the states succeed in their legal challenge.