(WORLD) Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., says he has sent FDA Commissioner Marty Makary three letters over the past 10 months, demanding information on pro-life issues. On Tuesday morning, Makary finally sat for a closed-door briefing with the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. In remarks to WORLD later on Tuesday, Hawley said he did not learn anything new that hadn’t already been reported. Hawley said he believes that, based on Makary’s testimony, safety reviews into mifepristone, the most common abortifacient, could take years.
Why has Hawley been frustrated? Pro-life advocates have argued that mifepristone skirted FDA safety regulations when it was first approved in 2000. When he was confirmed by the Senate, Makary promised to launch a new, independent review into the drug’s reported harmful effects on women. A few months later, the FDA approved a generic version of the same drug. While Makary has argued that the review takes a long time and is still in its early stages, Hawley said the administration was under no obligation to approve a generic version of the same mifepristone. He told WORLD he has not seen evidence that the independent review has even started. Hawley sent several letters to Makary asking for information. The latest was in December after some media reports quoted anonymous sources who said Makary had intentionally delayed the mifepristone review. As of Tuesday, Hawley said that Makary still had not answered the letters and his briefing did not either.
What else did Hawley say? The senator also said Makary should appear for public testimony, not only private, off-the-record briefings. He said he interpreted Makary’s closed-door handling of the issue to mean the FDA has been avoiding transparency. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the drug has become the dominant source of abortions in the United States. It can be prescribed without an in-person doctor visit and has been shipped to states that have pro-life protections in place. Hawley described the FDA review as a dead-end process and said Congress should consider alternative ways to get involved.
What has the FDA said in response? The FDA referred WORLD to a "Frequently Asked Questions" page on its website. The page said that, as of Jan. 26, the FDA was in the process of collecting the data needed to conduct a well-controlled study. The agency insisted that it was taking the time necessary to do the study properly.
Editor's note: This article originally appeared in the February 10, 2026, issue of WORLD Magazine. Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2026 WORLD News Group. All rights reserved. To read more Biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires, call (828) 435-2981 or visit wng.org.
