Abortion opponents praised Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday after he promised to follow former President Trump’s stance on abortion pills, if confirmed as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). His promise comes as conservatives push for the Trump administration to tighten rules on the abortion pill mifepristone, also known as Mifeprex. If Kennedy is confirmed, he will have significant power over how these pills are regulated, affecting abortion access nationwide.
John Mize, the head of the conservative group Americans United for Life, expressed support for Kennedy, saying that Kennedy’s acknowledgment that abortion is a tragedy resonated with pro-life groups. His organization had previously called on the Trump administration to restrict or ban mifepristone altogether, even in states where abortion remains legal.
Kennedy told the Senate Committee on Finance that President Trump had asked him to look into the safety of mifepristone. He said, “Whatever President Trump decides, I will implement those policies.” Kennedy added that Trump had specifically asked him to investigate the safety of the pill with the help of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the FDA.
Democrats on the committee raised concerns about Kennedy’s willingness to restrict mifepristone, suggesting that it could lead to a national abortion ban. Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, warned that Kennedy might abuse his power as head of HHS to limit access to the abortion pill, which is considered safe and legal.
After the hearing, a spokesperson for the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America said they were encouraged by Kennedy’s answers, though other conservative groups, such as Advancing American Freedom, were not convinced. They called for Kennedy’s nomination to be rejected, saying the U.S. deserves an HHS Secretary who is fully committed to protecting life.
Kennedy’s past support for abortion raised further questions. Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire asked him when he shifted from supporting abortion to aligning with Trump’s anti-abortion stance. Kennedy stated that he now agrees with Trump, saying, “Every abortion is a tragedy.”
Kennedy also promised to support Trump’s policies on Title X funding for family planning clinics, which under the previous administration led to Planned Parenthood’s exit from the program. He acknowledged his lack of knowledge about the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which had been used by the Biden administration to challenge abortion bans.
