Hinds Today

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) raised concerns about the FDA's regulations on chemical abortion drugs during a recent hearing. Hyde-Smith criticized the FDA for allowing access to these drugs without in-person physician visits, leading to the stockpiling of abortion pills through advance prescribing.

During a Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to review the FY2025 FDA budget request, Hyde-Smith addressed FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, highlighting the risks associated with obtaining abortion pills without direct medical supervision. She emphasized the disparity in requirements for different prescription medications, noting the potential dangers of the abortion pill regimen.

Hyde-Smith expressed her disapproval of the FDA's approach to mifepristone, stating that the agency's relaxed reporting standards may downplay the risks associated with the drug. She criticized the FDA for allowing women to access these medications without adequate medical oversight, which she argued puts lives at risk.

Following the hearing, Hyde-Smith criticized Califf for distancing the FDA from addressing the issue of stockpiling abortion pills through advance prescribing. She emphasized the importance of holding the FDA accountable for the potential harms caused by the misuse of these drugs, despite the agency's stance on not regulating medical practices.

In February, Hyde-Smith and U.S. Representative August Pfluger (R-Texas) led a bipartisan amicus brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. The brief, supported by 26 Senators and 119 House members, opposed the FDA's deregulation of chemical abortion drugs in recent years, including the distribution of mail-order abortion drugs.

In 2016, the FDA relaxed safety precautions related to the distribution of abortion drugs, eliminating in-person and follow-up doctor visits, and reducing reporting requirements for non-fatal adverse events. Additionally, during the pandemic in 2021, the FDA permitted the mail delivery of mifepristone in violation of Federal law.