Wyoming Senators Urge Reevaluation of Abortion Pill Approval Amid Legal Battles

Wyoming's Republican senators, Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso, have joined forces with their GOP colleagues to address the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the approval of a generic version of mifepristone, a drug commonly used in medication abortions.

 

In a recent letter, the senators commended HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary for acknowledging data discrepancies concerning the safety of abortion pills and their commitment to reviewing the science. They urged a reevaluation of the FDA's decision to approve the generic mifepristone, emphasizing the need to suspend its availability until a comprehensive safety review is conducted.

 

The letter stated, "We commend your recent statements acknowledging the data discrepancies surrounding abortion pill safety and your commitment to reviewing the science. We are also encouraged by HHS’s recent announcement that it will review prior Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) approvals given the recent studies raising concerns about the drug’s safety."

 

They continued, "Given this commitment, however, we are deeply concerned about the FDA’s approval of a new generic version of mifepristone. While we recognize the FDA’s statutory responsibility in evaluating drug applications, the timing of this approval appears inconsistent with the comprehensive safety reassessment your agencies have prioritized. Out of respect for this important review, and with full confidence in your dedication to protecting women’s health, states’ rights, and unborn life, we urge you to take decisive action to reevaluate whether this generic version of mifepristone is suitable to enter the market."

 

The senators also highlighted concerns about the impact of unrestricted access to abortion pills on state laws, stating, "Unrestricted access to abortion pills is systematically undermining states’ rights and violating pro-life state laws. Every month, thousands of abortion drugs are shipped into states that have otherwise limited access to abortion after Dobbs, degrading pro-life laws at the state level across the country."

 

Additional co-signers of the letter include Senators Jim Banks (R-IN), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jon Husted (R-OH), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), David McCormick (R-PA), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Rand Paul (R-KY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), James Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Todd Young (R-IN).

 

This initiative comes amid ongoing legal battles over abortion laws in Wyoming. In November 2024, Teton County District Judge Melissa Owens struck down the state's overall ban on abortion and its explicit prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy, ruling that these laws violated women's rights under the state constitution. The decision was a significant victory for abortion rights advocates and underscored the contentious nature of abortion legislation in the state.

 

Despite the ruling, the legal landscape remains complex. In April 2025, Wyoming's only abortion clinic, Wellspring Health Access in Casper, resumed services after a judge suspended two state laws: one requiring clinics providing surgical abortions to be licensed as outpatient surgical centers, and another mandating women to undergo an ultrasound before a medication abortion. These laws had previously led the clinic to halt services, forcing some women to seek abortions out of state.

 

The ongoing legal challenges and legislative actions reflect the deeply divided opinions on abortion in Wyoming and across the nation. As the debate continues, the actions of Senators Lummis and Barrasso highlight the persistent efforts by some lawmakers to restrict access to abortion medications, citing safety concerns and the preservation of states' rights.

 

As the situation evolves, it remains to be seen how these legal and political maneuvers will impact access to abortion services in Wyoming and beyond.