Adams Administration Vows To Fight Federal Court Ruling Potentially Banning Medication Abortion Drug Nationwide
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas has issued a ruling that prohibits the prescription of mifepristone, a drug used for medication abortions, nationwide. The ruling will take effect in one week, unless it is blocked by a higher court. The ruling was made by Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by former President Trump.
The mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, and his administration have expressed their opposition to the ruling. They have stated that they will help fight the ruling and ensure that women in the city can continue to access abortion services. They have also pointed out that they have expanded access to medication abortion in the city by offering it for free at public health clinics.
“Nearly 10 months ago, a Supreme Court packed with Trump appointees issued a ruling taking us 50 years back in time as they sought to shackle women and others in reproductive bondage. Make no mistake, today’s ruling by another Trump appointee could make it even harder for people to access an abortion, even here in New York City, and is a clear act of war on women,” said Mayor Adams. “In New York City, more than 2,000 women had medication abortions at NYC Health + Hospitals facilities last year, and we recently expanded abortion access, making medication abortion available for free at our city-run health clinics — becoming the first health department in the nation to do so — but banning one of the medications for the simplest, quickest, and most commons ways for women to access abortions nationwide is a cruel and inhumane decision by a court set on trampling the law, not upholding it. While women here in New York still have other options for abortion, even if this Texas decision is allowed to stand, they and women from across the country should know that our administration will fight every day to stop efforts to control women’s bodies, their choices, and their freedoms.”
The ruling is part of a series of legal challenges to abortion rights in the U.S., following a Supreme Court decision that allowed a Texas law that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy to remain in effect. The law has been widely criticized by abortion advocates and providers, who say it violates constitutional rights and creates a vigilante system.
Abortion rights supporters and providers are seeking emergency relief from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit or the Supreme Court to stop the ruling from taking effect. They argue that the ruling will harm thousands of women who rely on medication abortion, especially in states with restrictive abortion laws.