The FDA's ongoing review of mifepristone could skip over established science, health experts warnBy Jackie Flynn Mogensen edited by Clara Moskowitz Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesJoin Our Community of Science Lovers!The Trump administration is officially conducting an investigation into the abortion pill's safety, the Wall Street Journal reports, a process health experts worry may be politically motivated rather than based on science.The abortion pill mifepristone has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 2000, and is widely considered by health professionals to be safe and effective. Last year, Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced plans to review mifepristone's safety, citing concerns over a pandemic-era policy allowing the medication to be prescribed via telehealth. After months with no apparent movement on the review, the Trump administration faced criticism from antiabortion advocates, who urged the administration to pick up the pace.Now, the FDA appears to be accelerating that process. “Based on what we have seen from this administration to date, there is every reason to fear that this study will be a cherry-picking, data-contorting exercise designed to support a predetermined conclusion of lack of safety," Peter Lurie, former associate commissioner for public health strategy and analysis at the FDA, told Scientific American in October, shortly after Kennedy's announcement.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.The Trump administration says the investigation has been ongoing. "The FDA has been actively working on a science-based safety review of the mifepristone REMS [risk evaluation and mitigation strategies] for months, as the agency has stated publicly and in court filings," says an FDA spokesperson. "Any reporting suggesting otherwise, including that a study is just being started, is either false or based on a fundamental misunderstanding of how complex scientific safety studies work."Mifepristone is currently available by mail, but legal challenges are ongoing. Last month the Supreme Court extended a stay on a lower court ruling that would have made it illegal nationwide to mail the drug.The review will take about six months, sources told the Wall Street Journal, and the results will likely be released after the midterm elections in November.This is a breaking news story and will be updated.It’s Time to Stand Up for ScienceIf you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.