Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Wednesday he would study the abortion pill mifepristone for "safety issues" if confirmed to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Appearing before the Senate Finance Committee for his confirmation hearing, Kennedy faced questions about his stance on a host of issues, from abortion to vaccines.
Proponents of abortion rights have expressed concerns about whether the Trump administration will roll back reproductive freedoms now that the president has returned to office, although Trump has said he would not sign a nationwide abortion ban.
Kennedy, if confirmed, would be able to craft some of the Trump administration's abortion policy. He indicated broad support for reproductive rights during his presidential campaign, but Democrats raised concerns about his stance on abortion during the Senate hearing.
What To Know
Kennedy said he believes it is important to know the "adverse effects" of every drug, including mifepristone, which is used in combination with misoprostol to induce a medical abortion in an early-stage pregnancy. This is the most common way in the U.S. to terminate a pregnancy through medication, and mifepristone can be taken during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
"President Trump has made it clear to me that one of the things he has not taken a position yet is mifepristone, a detailed position," Kennedy said. "But he's made it clear to me that he wants me to look at safety issues, and I'll ask the [National Institutes of Health] and [Food and Drug Administration] to do that."
The drug has faced legal challenges following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that guaranteed abortion rights across the country.
The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) website says that mifepristone is "safe when used as indicated and directed and consistent with the Mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program."
It goes on to say: "The FDA's periodic reviews of the postmarketing data for Mifeprex and its approved generic have not identified any new safety concerns with the use of mifepristone for medical termination of pregnancy through 70 days gestation. As with all drugs, the FDA continues to closely monitor the postmarketing safety data on mifepristone for the medical termination of pregnancy."
Later in the hearing, Senator Maggie Hassan, a New Hampshire Democrat, pressed Kennedy about his views on abortion.
"The studies are there," she said. "The safety is proved. The science is there. But what you're telling us is that if President Trump orders you to take action to make it harder for women to get direly needed health care, you'll follow his order."
Hassan also accused Kennedy of being "willing to sacrifice" his "values" if Trump asks him to do so. She noted that he previously identified as "pro-choice."
"You have clearly stated in the past that bodily autonomy is one of your core values. The question is: Do you stand for that value or not? When is it that you decided to sell out the values you've had your whole life in order to be given power by President Trump?" she asked.
Kennedy responded, "Senator, I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy."
What People Are Saying
Representative Ayanna Pressley, a Massachusetts Democrat, said on X (formerly Twitter): "One more time for those in the back: Mifepristone is a safe medication. RFK Jr is not a safe person."
Representative Kelly Morrison, a Minnesota Democrat, wrote on X: "OBGYN here --RFK is propagating dangerous misinformation that is harmful to patients. For my entire 20+ year career as a practicing OBGYN, mifepristone has been used as a safe and effective medication."
Senator Steve Daines, a Montana Republican, said during the hearing: "The FDA has been under scrutiny and brought to court for failure to properly assess this drug, as well as subsequent deregulations Senator Lankford described over the past 25 years."
What Happens Next
Kennedy's confirmation hearing is expected to continue on Thursday. The committee will then vote on whether to advance his nomination, potentially setting up an overall vote in the Senate.
It's not clear if any Republicans plan to reject his nomination at this point.
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