Federal appeals court blocks mailing of abortion pills in ruling with nationwide effect
A federal appeals court has blocked the mailing of the abortion pill mifepristone, reinstating in-person prescription requirements and creating a nationwide impact. The ruling challenges the FDA's regulatory authority over the drug and may lead to a Supreme Court review. Mifepristone is a key component of medication abortions and its restricted access could affect patients even in states where abortion remains legal.
- ▪The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that mifepristone must be dispensed in person, ending mail-order and pharmacy-based access under current FDA rules.
- ▪The decision reinstates a requirement for patients to see a medical professional in person to obtain mifepristone, a rule lifted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ▪The court criticized the FDA for eliminating adverse event reporting requirements for mifepristone and then using the lack of data to justify expanded access.
- ▪The ruling supports arguments from pro-life states like Louisiana that federal policy undermines their abortion bans.
- ▪Mifepristone is one of two drugs used in medication abortions and accounts for the majority of abortions in the United States, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
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Federal Courts Federal appeals court blocks mailing of abortion pills in ruling with nationwide effect Decision blocking FDA rule sets up a likely Supreme Court fight over federal authority to regulate mifepristone access By Jasmine Baehr Fox News Published May 1, 2026 8:47pm EDT Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Life is a 'spiritual issue,' Family Research Council president says Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council and former Louisiana state representative, reacts to a ruling on the abortion drug mifepristone at the 'America Reads the Bible' red carpet.
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