U.S. Abortion Pill Access Under Fire: Lawsuits And Regulatory Battles To Watch in 2026
Reuters, January 5, 2026
The increased use of abortion medication following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade fueled a new wave of legal battles involving the regulation of Mifepristone. Republican-led U.S. states in three separate pending lawsuits are seeking to restrict access to Mifepristone. Meanwhile, Democratic-led states filed petitions challenging the FDA’s 2023 rules, which restrict who can provide abortion medication and require a signed authorization from patients. Courts will also address the conflict between Texas and New York that will test New York’s shield law. As for regulatory battles, Missouri, Kansas, and Idaho are challenging the FDA’s recent approval of a new generic version of Mifepristone.
Abortion Stays Legal in Wyoming as Its Top Court Strikes Down Laws, Including First U.S. Pill Ban
Associated Press, January 6, 2026
The Wyoming Supreme Court ruled that two state laws barring abortion care violate Wyoming’s state constitution. One of the laws banned abortions with the exception of protecting a pregnant woman’s life or in cases involving rape or incest. The other law explicitly banned abortion pills. The president of Wyoming’s only abortion clinic, Wellspring Health Access, stated the ruling upholds abortion as “essential health care” that shouldn’t be subject to government interference.
White House Walks Back Trump Comments After Abortion Blowback
Bloomberg Government, January 7, 2026
After President Donald Trump’s comments to House Republicans to be “flexible” on the Hyde Amendment on Tuesday, the White House walked back his comments, defending his support for the Hyde Amendment. The Hyde Amendment prevents federal funding for abortions and has been a point of contention in the health care fight on Capitol Hill. At a press briefing on Wednesday, Karoline Leavitt stated, “The president did not change the administration’s policy.” Leavitt’s comments followed pushback from conservative Republicans, who view the Hyde Amendment as a red line.
Abortion May No Longer Be a Top Priority for Democratic Voters Ahead of 2026 Midterms, Polls Show
The Guardian, January 1, 2026
Recent polling indicates that Democrats may not be able to count on abortion rights in their efforts to drive votes in the 2026 midterms, after making abortion rights the centerpiece of their pitch to voters in the elections that followed Dobbs. The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) found that in 2024, 55% of Democrats said abortion was important to their vote, but in October of this year, just 36% of Democrats said the same. Melissa Deckman, PRRI’s CEO, stated abortion has been replaced as a top issue by affordability and the economy. “That seems to be first and foremost for everyone. But it’s also, for Democrats, the state of democracy writ large. We consistently find that Democrats are more concerned about the health of democracy.”
Trump Administration Bans Abortion Care for Veterans
Mother Jones, December 23, 2025
The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) sent out a memo on Monday, December 22, announcing that it will no longer provide abortion care or abortion counseling to veterans. The department also removed abortion exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or health emergencies. According to the VA, there are more than 700,000 family members who are eligible for its care. Additionally, there are over 2.1 million women veterans and thousands of transgender men and non-binary veterans who may need abortion care.
ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
The National Partnership hosted a two-part Instagram Live series featuring advocates from Virginia, Delaware, Kentucky, and Michigan to talk about the maternal health crisis.
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Note: The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
