Abortion Pill Control Lies With FDA as Court Fight Tests Agency

Mifepristone access in the US hinges on how the FDA handles conflicting court rulings over the abortion medication’s availability, as a litigation battle plays out with significant implications for the extent of federal agency authority.

Legal experts say a Texas federal judge’s suspension of a Food and Drug Administration drug approval coming alongside another court’s demand that the agency maintain the product’s access presents an unprecedented situation for the federal government.

The FDA sits in the crosshairs. The agency has the ultimate say in how to respond to the court decisions, the outcomes of which could very well end up ...