Trump administration defends mifepristone access in Texas lawsuit

In 2025, the Trump administration filed a request in a Texas federal court to dismiss a lawsuit from three Republican-led states—Missouri, Idaho, and Kansas—that seeks to limit access to the abortion medication mifepristone. The case challenges actions taken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which expanded access to the medication through telehealth and mail prescriptions, and allowed its use up to ten weeks into pregnancy. The Justice Department argued that the states lacked legal standing to bring the lawsuit, as they did not have a direct connection to Texas, the jurisdiction where the case was filed. Previously, in 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a similar lawsuit after ruling that the original plaintiffs lacked standing to sue. After that ruling, Missouri, Idaho, and Kansas attempted to revive the case, claiming that the access to mifepristone undermines their own abortion laws. In recent court filings, DOJ lawyers echoed the Biden administration’s position that the lawsuit should have been filed in a district directly connected to the claims made, arguing procedural shortcomings in the states' approach. The lawsuit reflects ongoing tensions between state laws regulating abortion and federal FDA policies. The states aimed to roll back FDA decisions made in 2016 and 2021 that expanded access to mifepristone, which has become a significant component of the medication abortion regimen across the U.S. This legal battle is indicative of the broader national debate about reproductive rights following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. Political dynamics surrounding the issue remain complex, with Trump's administration seemingly adopting a more moderate approach to abortion access than many of his supporters expected. While he maintains a pro-life stance, recent actions indicate a willingness to uphold access to certain abortion medications. The outcome of this lawsuit may set a precedent for future cases related to abortion medication and telehealth prescriptions.