Coalition of States Commits to Protect Access to Mifepristone Amid Federal Review

A coalition of attorneys general from various U.S. states, including New York, Minnesota, and Arizona, has publicly pledged to safeguard access to mifepristone, a medication used in the majority of abortions across the country. The collective response comes in the wake of the Trump administration's announced review of the drug's safety, which many reproductive rights advocates consider an unnecessary challenge to healthcare access.

The coalition emphasizes that the decision to reevaluate mifepristone was prompted by a discredited letter, disregarding decades of scientific research affirming the drug’s safety and efficacy. The joint statement, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, asserts that healthcare decisions should be made between patients, their families, and providers, based on scientific evidence rather than political motives.

Additionally, representatives from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington state, and the District of Columbia have voiced their support for protecting access to the medication. This unified stance was issued amid reports that officials, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, are conducting their own reviews of mifepristone following a letter from a conservative think tank—noted for its political leanings—questioning the drug’s safety.

Mifepristone has been approved in the U.S. for 25 years, serving as the most common method for early abortion and also used for managing early pregnancies that miscarry. The drug works by halting pregnancy progression, in combination with misoprostol, which induces uterine evacuation. Both medications are authorized for use up to 70 days of gestation.

While opponents cite studies not peer-reviewed or published in scientific journals, supporters highlight its extensive history of safe use supported by scientific research. The coalition’s firm stance reflects the broader debate over reproductive rights and access in the United States, especially during politically charged reviews of established drug safety.