In a clash of values and policy, the White House has firmly backed FDA Commissioner Marty Makary against a storm of criticism from pro-life advocates.
On December 9, the administration dismissed demands from prominent pro-life groups, like Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, to oust Makary over the FDA’s handling of abortion-related medications, OSV News reported.
The controversy ignited with the FDA’s recent approval of a new generic version of mifepristone, a drug used primarily for early abortions but also in miscarriage care.
Mifepristone, first greenlit by the FDA in 2000 for early pregnancy termination, has long been a lightning rod in the culture wars.
Critics, including Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, slammed the FDA for what they call a dangerous disregard for safety by pushing through this latest approval.
Dannenfelser also accused Makary of stalling a promised study on the real-world effects of abortion drugs on women, a delay that Bloomberg reported on December 8.
Dannenfelser didn’t hold back, declaring, “Enough is enough,” and insisting that Makary “should be fired immediately” for failing to prioritize women’s safety.
Her frustration isn’t just with policy—it’s personal to the cause, as she argues Makary’s actions clash with the pro-life stance of President Trump and Vice President Vance.
She contends that state-level protections for the unborn are being undermined by federal overreach, a bitter pill for conservatives who champion local control.
Yet the White House isn’t budging, with spokesman Kush Desai asserting that Makary “is working diligently to ensure that Americans have the best possible, Gold Standard Science study of mifepristone.”
Desai’s defense paints Makary as a reformer, highlighting achievements like tackling artificial food ingredients and overhauling baby formula safety reviews—hardly the image of a reckless bureaucrat.
Still, one wonders if “gold standard” science is just a shiny phrase when pro-life advocates see lives at stake every day the study lags.
Adding fuel to the fire, both Makary and others faced pointed questions from pro-life congressional members after the mifepristone approval, despite earlier hints of a thorough drug review.
Meanwhile, President Trump and Vice President Vance have walked a tightrope on this issue—Trump via video and Vance in person recently addressed the March for Life, signaling support for the movement, even as Trump has said he’d veto a federal abortion ban and leave the matter to states.
Vance, during the campaign, also noted Trump’s openness to mifepristone access, a stance that grates against the hardline position of activists like Dannenfelser, leaving some to question if the administration’s heart is truly with the cause or just playing political chess.
