Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is already on the hit list of most Democrats, many of whom are calling for his resignation as Health and Human Services secretary.
Now, Kennedy has made enemies on the right as well.
After vowing to review an abortion drug just a week ago, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just approved it, and at least one Republican senator is up in arms over the development.
Mifepristone is a very popular abortion pill, but some members of the GOP were hoping to have it taken off the market.
To that point, Kennedy recently stated to curious lawmakers that the drug was currently under review by the FDA.
Kennedy said, "HHS -- through the FDA -- is conducting its own review of the evidence, including real-world outcomes and evidence, relating to the safety and efficacy of the drug.
"Recent studies -- such as the study by the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC), which you highlighted in your letter -- indicate potential dangers that may attend offering mifepristone without sufficient medical support or supervision. FDA's own data collected between 2000 to 2012 indicated 2,740 adverse events, including 416 events involving blood loss requiring transfusions. Since then, safeguards for women regarding the administration of mifepristone have been significantly reduced."
That letter was sent about a week ago, but reports broke this week that a new generic version of the abortion pill mifepristone was just approved by the FDA.
Now, call me crazy, but that letter from Kennedy was not exactly a ringing endorsement of the drug, yet the medication still somehow made it through the approval process.
The FDA stated, “We have completed the review … and have concluded that adequate information has been presented to demonstrate that the drug meets the requirements for approval.”
Kennedy added, “[FDA] only approved a second generic mifepristone tablet because federal law requires approval when an application proves the generic is identical to the brand-name drug.”
It took about two seconds for Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) to go nuclear on Kennedy after the FDA approved the drug.
He stated, "This is shocking. FDA has just approved ANOTHER chemical abortion drug, when the evidence shows chemical abortion drugs are dangerous and even deadly for the mother. And of course 100% lethal to the child."
Hawley continued, "FDA had promised to do a top-to-bottom safety review of the chemical abortion drug, but instead they’ve just greenlighted new versions of it for distribution. I have lost confidence in the leadership at FDA."
As I noted above, there is already serious pressure to have Kennedy removed from office coming from the left, and there are more on the right starting to question this appointment every day. President Donald Trump continues to stand by Kennedy, but I am not sure how much longer he can do so before it starts to cost him politically. I would be shocked, at this point, if Kennedy is still in his role by the time midterm elections are held.
