DOJ Seeks Dismissal of GOP States' Abortion Pill Lawsuit

The Department of Justice has asked a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit by three Republican-led states—Idaho, Kansas, and Missouri—that seeks to roll back expanded access to the abortion pill mifepristone. Both the Trump and Biden administrations have taken the position that the states lack legal standing and that the case was filed in the wrong venue, with the original plaintiffs having already been found to lack standing and having dropped their claims. The states aim to reverse FDA guidelines from 2016 and 2021 that extended the window for medication abortion to 10 weeks, allowed non-doctors to prescribe mifepristone, and permitted the drug to be dispensed by mail. The Justice Department further argued that the states’ challenge is time-barred, as they are contesting actions taken more than six years ago. This legal maneuver is notable given the Trump administration's previous public opposition to abortion rights, yet it aligns with the Biden administration's defense of the FDA’s regulatory authority. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for abortion access nationwide.