Mifepristone is an extremely safe, effective medication that has been used for both abortion and miscarriage care since the FDA first approved it more than 23 years ago. However, a federal judge in Texas imposed a temporary halt on the FDA's approval last April, prompting concerns about access to this crucial medication.
In early February, dozens of Connecticut’s elected leaders joined with their colleagues across the country to sound the alarm on the nationwide threat to abortion access posed by an unprecedented lawsuit challenging FDA-approved access to Mifepristone.
In March, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding the lawsuit and with medication abortions already making up more than half of all abortions in the United States, the stakes are high. The national implications of this case on FDA decisions loom large, potentially impacting states where abortion remains legal. This case could upend the country’s drug approval process, and put every FDA-approved medication at risk of being restricted to advance a political agenda. Mifepristone is pivotal for ensuring abortion access, particularly in low-income, underserved, and rural areas and must remain on the market.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has joined the 24 attorneys general to advocate for the preservation of access to Mifepristone. Tong's involvement goes even farther, as Connecticut is party to another lawsuit in Washington state regarding Mifepristone access. This multifaceted legal engagement underscores the gravity of the issue and the determination of our elected champions to protect reproductive rights.
On March 26, the day the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case that would decide the fate of Mifepristone, we joined Attorney General Tong, other state leaders, and reproductive rights advocates at a press conference to collectively urge the courts to dismiss the case and send the message that Connecticut would not back down in the face of another attack on our bodily autonomy.
“What business is it of the plaintiffs what a woman in Connecticut does with their body? It’s none of their damn business. I’m encouraged by the arguments, but we’re not going to wait for the Supreme Court,” Tong said at the press conference. “We’re going to go on offense.”
We want to extend our thanks to the Attorney General Tong, the Office of Governor Ned Lamont, our members of Congress, and the 36 state legislators who have voiced support through separate briefs, alongside other congressional lawmakers. Their collective efforts emphasize the interconnectedness of state and federal actions in defending reproductive rights.
As the legal battle unfolds, the fate of mifepristone hangs in the balance. The outcome will not only shape abortion access but also influence broader discussions on regulatory oversight and reproductive health care in the United States. The amicus brief signed by Tong and others underscores a commitment to preserving access to vital health care services.
Check out some of the coverage from the press conference here.