Montana U.S. Senator Steve Daines has urged federal health authorities to investigate the safety of the abortion pill mifepristone. His call comes after a study released by the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC), a conservative think tank, raised concerns about health risks associated with the medication. Mifepristone is commonly used in combination with misoprostol for abortions within the first ten weeks of pregnancy. In 2023, medication abortions accounted for 84% of all abortions performed in Montana, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a national reproductive rights advocacy organization.
The EPPC’s report claims that nearly 11% of patients who used mifepristone experienced serious adverse events, including sepsis, infection, or severe hemorrhaging. The report also argues that the drug is less effective than previously stated. Critics of the study, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have challenged its methodology, asserting it lacks transparency and has not undergone peer review. In contrast, over 100 studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of mifepristone in terminating pregnancies.
During a Senate Finance Committee hearing on September 4, 2025, Daines emphasized the findings of the EPPC study, stating that “pro-abortion advocates care more about promoting their radical agenda than they do about women’s health.” He accused supporters of the abortion pill of misleading women about its safety, asserting that the drug is not as harmless as suggested.
This scrutiny has intensified pressure on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reassess the safety profile of mifepristone. Although the drug has been approved for use since 2000, the FDA recently confirmed it would conduct an investigation into the medication’s safety. When questioned by Daines about the status of this review, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, indicated that the process is “progressing and ongoing.”
Daines also inquired whether Kennedy would support reinstating the requirement for in-person consultations before prescribing abortion medication, a practice that was relaxed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kennedy responded that he would need to check whether the White House has established a position on that matter.
Advocates for reproductive rights perceive the ongoing attacks on medication abortion as efforts to impose indirect bans on access. Martha Fuller, CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana, criticized Daines for spreading misinformation about abortion care. She argued that such actions threaten the health care choices of Montanans, stating, “In a rural state like ours with already-limited access to health care providers, mifepristone and medication abortion are a lifeline for thousands of Senator Daines’ constituents.”
Previous attempts by Montana lawmakers to restrict access to medication abortion have faced legal challenges. In 2021, a bill requiring in-person examinations for prescribing mifepristone was enacted but later declared unconstitutional by the Montana Supreme Court, which argued it violated privacy and free speech rights. Following a 2024 ballot measure that saw 60% of Montana voters support constitutional protections for abortion up to fetal viability, advocates believe federal regulations may now be the only avenue for anti-abortion initiatives.
As the debate over mifepristone intensifies, the implications of these discussions extend beyond legislative chambers, impacting the personal health choices of countless individuals across the nation.
