Washington, D.C. – Tonight U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, issued a decision that overturned decades of determinations by the FDA that found mifepristone is safe and effective. That decision, for now, will apply nationwide after seven days pass. In a separate case this evening, a decision was released that orders the FDA to keep mifepristone available under current approval standards. Following the ruling, Patrick Gaspard, President and CEO of the Center for American Progress issued the following statement:
The ability of doctors to make medical decisions for their patients has never been in greater jeopardy. MAGA extremists’ willingness to upend the FDA’s clear authority to regulate drugs has implications for every single person living in the country, regardless of age or gender. Drug approvals should be based on science and safety, not politics. Full stop.
But despite the legal uncertainty, one thing is crystal clear: the far-right MAGA movement is trying to control women no matter the repercussions to their health and their very lives.
The rhetoric in Kacsmaryk’s decision is a frightening reminder of how extreme much of the judiciary has become– ultra-conservative judges who issue opinions in pursuit of ideological goals are an existential threat to the future of our legal system. Tonight’s dangerous chaos should serve as a reminder of the importance of fighting against this extreme right-wing agenda – our health, our safety, and the future of American democracy as we know it depend upon it.
For more information or to speak to an expert, contact Julia Cusick at [email protected].