Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left) and Nancy Mace. Photos: Drew Angerer and Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) may be on the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to abortion rights, but on the conflicting rulings about abortion pills they agree: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should "ignore" a Texas federal judge's decision to halt the approval of abortion medication.
Why it matters: If that ruling stands, manufacturing, selling and distributing the abortion drug mifepristone will be outlawed — effectively creating a nationwide ban on abortion medication.
What they're saying: "I believe that the Biden administration should ignore this ruling," Ocasio-Cortez said in an appearance on CNN. The courts are making "a mockery of our system, a mockery of our democracy and a mockery of our law."
- "I think one of the things that we need to examine is the grounds of that ruling. But I do not believe that the courts have the authority to, have the authority over the FDA that they just asserted, and I do believe that it creates a crisis," she added.
Mace similarly said in her own interview with CNN that "this is an FDA-approved drug. Whether you agree with its usage or not, that's not your decision. That is the FDA’s decision."
- "I support the usage of FDA-approved drugs even if we might disagree. It's not up to us to decide as legislators or even the court system … So I agree with ignoring [the ruling] at this point."
Yes, but: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has already warned against the idea.
- "People are rightly frustrated about this decision — but as dangerous a precedent it sets for a court to disregard FDA’s expert judgment regarding a drug’s safety and efficacy, it would also set a dangerous precedent for the Administration to disregard a binding decision," HHS spokesperson Kamara Jones tweeted.
Worth noting: The case and its dueling rulings are expected to end up at the Supreme Court.
- The Department of Justice filed an appeal of the Texas decision on Monday.
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