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Abortion pill mifepristone stays available by mail for now as FDA faces 6-month review deadline
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A federal judge allowed the abortion pill mifepristone to continue being distributed by mail nationwide for now, but warned the Biden-era policy could soon face major legal changes as a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety review of the drug unfolds.
The legal challenge to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s January 2023 Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) seeks to end the «certified pharmacies» regulation that allows for the drug to be mailed across state lines while the federal agency continues its review.
U.S. District Court Judge David C. Joseph, appointed by President Donald Trump, ruled against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill on Tuesday, citing what he referred to as a «government by lawsuit.»
«…It is the completion of FDA’s promised good faith, evidence-based, and expeditious review of the mifepristone REMS, not «government by lawsuit,» that this Court finds to be in the public interest,» Joseph wrote in his ruling.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD ATTACKS HAWLEY EFFORT TO STRIP FDA APPROVAL OF MIFEPRISTONE
A federal judge Tuesday allowed the abortion pill mifepristone to continue being distributed by mail nationwide. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters, File)
Joseph also cited a letter from both Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary asking their respective agencies to «conduct a comprehensive safety review» of the 2023 mifepristone REMS.
Murrill told Fox News Digital she plans on taking Joseph’s ruling to the Fifth Circuit despite the ongoing mifepristone REMS review from both agencies.
«Judge Joseph concluded that Louisiana has standing to sue and is likely to succeed in showing that the 2023 REMS is unlawful,» Murrill said to Fox News Digital in a statement.
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Pro-life supporters rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. (Olivier Douliery/AFP, File)
«He also concluded that Louisiana suffers irreparable harm every day that the 2023 REMS remains in effect,» she added. «Accordingly, under binding Fifth Circuit precedent, the only thing left to do is vacate the 2023 REMS pending the outcome of this litigation. We will ask the Fifth Circuit to do so.»
The ruling sets up a high-stakes legal fight over abortion pills, with a federal appeals court showdown looming and the FDA under pressure to justify rules that dramatically expanded access in recent years.
In the past year, many red states nationwide have taken the 2023 REMS mail-order regulation to the courts.
In one notable incident last year, a Texas man who fathered an unborn child sued a California doctor who prescribed his ex-girlfriend mifepristone through the organization «Aid Access.» His case, Rodriguez v. Coeytaux, is still ongoing.
HAWLEY INTRODUCES BILL TO STRIP FDA APPROVAL FROM ‘INHERENTLY DANGEROUS’ ABORTION PILL
A federal judge ruled against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill on Tuesday, citing what he referred to as a «government by lawsuit.» (Chris Graythen/Getty Images, File)
In the State of Louisiana v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Murrill seeks a full rollback of the REMS policy regardless of the findings of the review.
Joseph denied injunction without prejudice in the suit that Louisiana brought to the court, but also granted stay of the case. His ruling orders the FDA to complete their safety review, which had been postponed through the November midterm elections, and to report back in six months.
«Should the agency fail to complete its review and make any necessary revisions to the REMS within a reasonable timeframe, the Court’s analysis – and the weight accorded to these factors – will inevitably change,» Joseph wrote in his ruling.
Joseph did point to Louisiana’s standing in the suit, claiming the state is suffering «ongoing harm» after the Dobbs decision in 2022 allowed the state to ban abortion.
«Thus, in that post-Dobbs regulatory environment, there is evidence that the 2023 REMS was approved without adequate consideration, at least in part, as part of an effort to circumvent anti-abortion states’ ability to regulate abortion,» Joseph wrote. «Likewise, there is evidence that the consequences of this action were predictable – out-of-state providers and related entities would expand access to mifepristone in ways designed to reach into jurisdictions like Louisiana.»
PRO-LIFE ORGANIZATION CALLS ON HHS AND FDA TO SUSPEND ABORTION PILL APPROVAL, TIGHTEN SAFETY RULES
Mifepristone was first approved by the FDA in 2000 under strict guidelines. (Charlie Neibergall/AP, File)
However, Joseph pointed to the FDA as the ultimate decision maker on the issue, as a matter of «public health judgment.»
Mifepristone was first approved by the FDA in 2000 under strict guidelines, requiring a pregnancy at seven weeks’ gestation or fewer, and only administered in-person after being seen by a prescribing physician.
The guidelines were first relaxed in 2016, where the gestational age of the proposed pregnancy was lengthened to 10 weeks, and required fewer in-person visits to obtain a prescription.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, where mifepristone was prescribed and sent via mail under unprecedented circumstances, the same rules were legalized under the FDA’s REMS in 2023.
Reuters reported that mifepristone is the single-most popular method of abortion in the U.S., representing about 60% of all abortions.
HAWLEY LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO ABORTION DRUG MANUFACTURERS OVER ‘GRAVE RISKS’ TO WOMEN
A Kansas law requiring that patients be informed of reversal regimens for medication abortion is one of two being challenged in a lawsuit by abortion providers. (Charlie Riedel/AP)
Joseph’s ruling orders the FDA to finish their review, which may revise rules under the 2023 REMS guidelines. It also allows the court to act if the agency continues to delay its safety review more than six months.
«Should the agency fail… the Court’s analysis… will inevitably change,» Joseph concluded.
Joseph maintained mifepristone access in Louisiana for now, but signaled the legal and scientific basis for those rules may not hold.
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«This is one of the many reasons why the investigation into the FDA must be sped up so that states can begin to regulate abortions if the feds don’t,» 40 Days for Life President Shawn Carney told Fox News Digital. «This was one of the great promises by RFK that they initiated last year, because we now know how dangerous these abortion drugs are.»
«The investigation into the FDA must be sped up because every abortion pill sent through the mail is a huge, unregulated danger that has been a disaster since Biden deregulated it,» Carney added.
The FDA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
abortion, federal judges, drugs, reproductive health, health care, federal courts, politics
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A Donald Trump lo acusan de «loco» por sus amenazas apocalípticas a Irán: ya hay algunos ex aliados que piden su destitución
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Spanberger dodges questions on whether she would reverse sanctuary policy as DHS turns up heat
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RICHMOND, VA — Virginia’s Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday ignored questions on whether she would entertain calls from the Department of Homeland Security to end sanctuary policies in the state.
«Governor Spanberger must end her sanctuary policies that allow these illegal aliens onto our streets and work with DHS to protect the citizens of the commonwealth,» the agency said in a post to social media.
Virginia — and in particular Fairfax County — has made headlines in recent weeks for a string of deadly attacks carried out by illegal aliens.
DHS BLASTS SPANBERGER ON POTENTIAL RELEASE OF ILLEGAL MIGRANT WITH 30+ ARRESTS CURRENTLY CHARGED WITH MURDER
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivers the Democratic response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on February 24, 2026. (Mike Kropf/Getty Images)
Earlier this month, authorities charged 28-year-old Guatemala native Misael Lopez Gomez with the murder of his 3-month-old daughter. His arrest comes on the heels of an attack by Anibal Armando Chavarria Muy, 38, another Guatemalan charged with fatally stabbing a man in his home. The county was also where repeat offender and Sierra Leone national Abdul Jalloh, 32, stabbed a victim to death at a bus stop in February.
DHS noted that three of the four suspects charged with murders in Fairfax County so far in 2026 are illegal aliens.
Spanberger did not comment on the figure.
MIGRANT ACCUSED OF GROPING MULTIPLE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS FACES CHARGES AS DHS WARNS SPANBERGER AGAINST RELEASE
Abdul Jalloh has racked up over 30 arrests since entering the U.S., according to officials. (DHS)
At the beginning of her term, Spanberger joined a handful of Democratic governors like California Governor Gavin Newsom and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker who have made it harder for local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
On Jan. 17, Spanberger rescinded local-federal coordination requirements, arguing that Virginia’s resources would be better spent enforcing its own laws.
«Virginians have been deprived of critical public safety and local law enforcement to divert their limited resources for use in enforcing federal civil immigration laws,» Spanberger said in a press release.
«Federal authorities should enforce federal civil immigration laws — law enforcement in the Commonwealth should prioritize the safety and security of all residents in Virginia, the enforcement of local and state laws and coordination with federal entities on criminal matters,» she added.
Another illegal alien who has gotten attention in Virginia is Israel Flores Ortiz, 19, who is facing nine counts of assault and battery for groping girls at a Fairfax County high school he was attending. Victims and parents have alleged that Ortiz approached about 12 girls from behind in crowded hallways, grabbed them between the legs and groped their private areas, according to 7News.
DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said last month that the agency is «calling on Fairfax County sanctuary politicians to NOT release this predator from jail back into our communities to assault more teenage women.»
She went on to slam Spanberger for ending former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s policy of cooperation with ICE, saying it is «siding with criminal illegal aliens over American citizens.»
NEW POLL REVEALS SPANBGERGER’S POPULARITY IS PLUMMETING AMID BACKLASH OVER GERRYMANDERING
Abigail Spanberger is conducting a bust tour through Virginia to connect with constituents as she campaigns to become the governor of Virginia in the 2025 gubernatorial election in Fairfax VA, on June 26, 2025. (Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post/Getty Images)
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DHS explained in a statement to Fox News Digital that it depends on partnerships to coordinate detention and removal of illegal aliens like Gomez, Muy and Jalloh.
«ICE can only detain illegals for the purpose of removal,» a DHS spokesperson said when asked how the agency coordinates handovers of suspects.
Fox News’ Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.
virginia, abigail spanberger, politics, homeland security
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El secretario general de la OTAN se reúne con Donald Trump en la Casa Blanca tras el inicio del alto el fuego entre EEUU e Irán
El secretario general de la OTAN, Mark Rutte, mantendrá este miércoles conversaciones con el presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, en Washington, un día después de que Estados Unidos e Irán acordaran un alto el fuego de dos semanas.
El presidente estadounidense expresó su enojo por la negativa de socios occidentales a respaldar su guerra contra Irán, lo que sacudió a la alianza transatlántica de 77 años. Trump calificó a los socios de la OTAN como “cobardes” por limitar el acceso de las fuerzas estadounidenses a bases en sus territorios y por negarse a liderar esfuerzos para abrir el estrecho de Ormuz.
Rutte intentará recomponer la relación durante su visita, en la que también se reunirá con el secretario de Estado, Marco Rubio, y el jefe del Pentágono, Pete Hegseth. El secretario general de la OTAN buscó en otras ocasiones acercar posiciones con Trump y apunta a repetir ese papel en este encuentro.
La OTAN enfrentó crisis reiteradas desde el regreso de Trump al poder el año pasado. Entre los episodios más destacados figura la amenaza del mandatario estadounidense de tomar el control de Groenlandia, territorio de Dinamarca, país miembro de la alianza.
También influyeron en las tensiones el retiro del apoyo a Ucrania en su guerra contra Rusia, las amenazas de no proteger a aliados que no aumenten su gasto en defensa y las advertencias de que Washington podría retirar tropas de Europa.
Rutte, al que se describe como un “susurrador de Trump”, ocupó un rol central en los esfuerzos de los aliados por apaciguar al presidente estadounidense. En relación con Irán, el jefe de la OTAN señaló que los esfuerzos de Estados Unidos para degradar la capacidad militar iraní eran algo para “aplaudir”.
Trump valoró esos gestos y describió a Rutte como “un tipo maravilloso” y una “gran persona”, aunque acusó a otros países de la OTAN de “haber hecho todo lo posible por no ayudar” en Medio Oriente.
Antes de su llegada a Washington, un funcionario de la OTAN citado por la agencia AFP indicó que Rutte planea “discutir la dinámica de seguridad actual, incluso en el contexto de Irán, así como la guerra en curso de Rusia contra Ucrania” durante sus conversaciones con Trump.
El funcionario también señaló que el secretario general buscará “construir sobre el éxito” de la cumbre de la OTAN celebrada el año pasado en La Haya, donde los aliados acordaron aumentar el gasto en defensa.
Las tensiones se profundizaron luego de que Rubio advirtiera que Estados Unidos “va a tener que reexaminar” la relación con la OTAN a la luz de las diferencias por Irán. “Creo que no hay duda de que, lamentablemente, una vez concluido este conflicto, vamos a tener que reexaminar esa relación. Vamos a tener que reevaluar el valor de la OTAN dentro de esa alianza para nuestro país”, dijo en Fox News.
Rubio recordó que fue “uno de los defensores más firmes de la OTAN” durante su etapa en el Senado porque “le veía un gran valor”, que incluía contar con bases en Europa para “proyectar poder en diferentes partes del mundo”. Sin embargo, advirtió: “Si ahora hemos llegado a un punto en el que la alianza de la OTAN significa que no podemos usar esas bases para defender los intereses de Estados Unidos, entonces la OTAN es una calle de sentido único”.
El jefe de la diplomacia estadounidense aclaró que Washington no solicitó a los aliados ataques aéreos contra Irán, pero sí esperaba acceso a instalaciones militares. “Cuando necesitamos que nos permitan usar sus bases militares, ¿su respuesta es ‘no’? Entonces, ¿para qué estamos en la OTAN? Hay que plantearse esa pregunta”, afirmó.
(Con información de AFP)
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