‘Rolling Thunder’: Inside the conservative strategy to limit access to abortion pills
Abortion opponents are optimistic that a recent report will motivate the GOP to implement a ban on abortion pills and cut funding for Planned Parenthood.
TroibNews 
The country’s leading anti-abortion organizations have unveiled a new strategy aimed at reducing access to abortion procedures for millions of Americans, referring to this moment as the “biggest opportunity for the pro-life movement” since the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
This initiative, which has been informally dubbed “Rolling Thunder,” marks the first significant campaign from the movement under the second Trump administration that focuses on abortion pills. The goal is to persuade the FDA, Congress, and the courts to impose stricter regulations on these medications.
During the early months of the Trump administration, there was little focus on abortion medication, with the administration even submitting a court brief aimed at maintaining access. However, activists are now hoping that a report from the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center will galvanize action among those in power.
This recent paper claims that a greater number of patients have suffered severe side effects from mifepristone than previously acknowledged. However, medical experts and advocates for abortion rights argue that the report inflates the risks associated with a drug deemed safe and effective by over 100 scientific studies.
The timing of the report coincides with comments from prominent Trump administration officials—like Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA chief Marty Makary—who have indicated a willingness to consider new evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of abortion pills.
Maria Baer, a podcast host with the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, remarked on a private Zoom call that the data could be utilized as leverage to urge the FDA and lawmakers to reevaluate or even suspend the approval of mifepristone until additional research is conducted. This call included representatives from various anti-abortion groups, such as Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Americans United for Life, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Students for Life, and Live Action.
Mifepristone, a key drug involved in approximately two-thirds of abortions in the U.S., has been a longstanding target for conservative activists who view it as the core reason for the rise in abortions following Roe's reversal in 2022 and as a means for women to bypass state restrictions.
The coalition also aims to use the report to pressure Congress into eliminating federal funding for Planned Parenthood, which they view as the primary distributor of the drugs, and to provide legal ammunition for prosecuting doctors who prescribe the pills in states where abortion is banned.
Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley stated he intends to introduce legislation inspired by the report that would limit access to these pills and simplify the process for patients who have taken them to sue the manufacturers, Danco and GenBioPro. He added that he is joining the groups' initiative directed at the FDA.
“Dr. Makary is in no doubt about my position on this,” Hawley said, expressing frustration that the agency has not yet moved to restrict mail deliveries of the pills. “This was much the topic of conversation during his [confirmation] hearings, and I have to say, his position now doesn't sound a lot to me like the ones he took during hearings.”
An FDA spokesperson responded by stating that the agency “rigorously evaluates the latest scientific data” and aligns a “science-based approach” with practical considerations. In response to Hawley’s remarks, the spokesperson referenced Makary's earlier statements expressing openness to regulatory changes regarding mifepristone should the data indicate the need.
The anti-abortion coalition is engaging in lobbying efforts targeting senior FDA and HHS officials and members of Congress, circulating petitions urging the administration to impose restrictions on the pills, and drafting a letter for lawmakers to sign that demands action from the agency.
Ryan Anderson, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, refrained from discussing any secured meetings with agency officials, noting he “obviously can't share information about our confidential conversations.” However, he did mention that “it's only been a week” since the report's release.
“Right away it is very clear that the release of this data … has gotten attention at the highest levels in the administration and on Capitol Hill,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, head of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
Opponents of the report, including Planned Parenthood and other abortion rights advocates, have dismissed it as “junk science.” They are mounting their own campaign to defend federal funding for reproductive health services, pointing out that the report was released by a conservative think tank rather than through a peer-reviewed medical journal.
Activists on the Zoom call countered these criticisms, claiming that the academic peer review process is “broken” and asserting distrust in potential biases from reviewers.
Dr. Christina Francis, CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs and part of a coalition of conservative physicians challenging the long-standing FDA approval of abortion pills, advised caution in distorting the paper's contents, describing it as “not a study in the traditional sense” and lacking conclusive proof. Nevertheless, she argued that it provides valid evidence that necessitates further investigation and action from the government.
“Providing women with the truth about the harms of chemical abortion, and encouraging the Trump FDA to bring doctors back into the equation and reinstate the original [President Bill] Clinton FDA safety provisions, will save lives and it will help protect women,” Anderson stated.
The anti-abortion activists emphasized that their public calls for reinstating previous federal restrictions—such as prohibitions on online prescriptions and curbside delivery of the pills, along with limiting their use to seven weeks of pregnancy—are merely a starting point. Their ultimate goal is to campaign for the removal of mifepristone from the market altogether.
Anderson outlined three key talking points for the coalition to push Congress and the Trump administration towards their objectives. First, it is impossible to realize Kennedy’s pledge to “Make America Healthy Again” without restricting access to the pills. Second, Trump’s commitment to “reverse damaging policies” from the Biden administration should include FDA regulations that ease access to these medications. Lastly, the assertion that Trump intends to leave decisions on abortion regulation to the states is undermined if California can deliver pills to Texas.
The coalition believes that recent comments from Kennedy and Makary indicate a willingness to consider changes to the regulation of mifepristone. Makary indicated last week that, while there are no current plans to restrict access to the drug, this stance could change.
“I believe as a scientist, that you’ve got to evolve as the data comes in,” he stated. “So if the data suggests something or tells us that there's a real signal, then I — we can't promise we're not going to act on that.”
Kennedy has similarly indicated that Trump has tasked him with investigating the drug's safety.
“Kennedy has said he wants to dig into this question of harms to women, and you provided him this data,” noted Dannenfelser on the Zoom call, as she outlined her approach to engage with the health secretary directly.
Baer, who advises the coalition on messaging, stated that they will also seek to shift public opinion on mifepristone through various online and in-person initiatives nationwide, starting with a webinar on May 14.
“We need to help to create a better, more accurate sense of this medication culturally, which is that it is not something to be taken lightly,” she said. “It shouldn't be prescribed lightly, and it shouldn't be thought of as an easy or uncomplicated fix to a crisis.”
John Mize, CEO of Americans United for Life, added that another aspect of the “Rolling Thunder” plan entails using the report on mifepristone to litigate against physicians in states with shield laws who prescribe the medication across state lines. They are collaborating with the Center for Client Safety, an organization that aims to “shut down abortion facilities to protect women and save preborn lives.” Their strategy involves pursuing False Claims Act lawsuits against doctors for representing the drugs as safe.
Ryan Anderson and other critics of the report emphasize concerns regarding its credibility, with Brittni Frederiksen, associate director for Women’s Health Policy at KFF, highlighting inaccuracies within the report, such as labeling ectopic pregnancies—situations where the embryo implants outside the uterus—as an “adverse event,” despite the fact that the pills are not indicated for such cases.
“There's just so many things wrong with it and so many red flags,” Frederiksen commented. “I can't imagine any medical journal that would accept this.”
Supporters of abortion rights are mobilizing to counter the “Rolling Thunder” campaign, defend mifepristone's safety and effectiveness, and advocate for continued federal funding for Planned Parenthood and similar organizations.
Progressive advocates, wishing to remain anonymous, have expressed relief that the report has received limited attention beyond conservative media and that only a handful of GOP lawmakers, including Hawley, have championed it. They are contemplating reaching out to the FDA to urge the retention of access to the pills, positioning themselves for potential legal action if restrictions are imposed.
Planned Parenthood’s advocacy group is actively working to sustain the significant federal funding it receives annually. The organization has executed over 100 outreach events in critical congressional districts, with targeted efforts in the Carolinas, Iowa, and Pennsylvania, during recent congressional recesses. They are investing in advertisements in states like Colorado, Iowa, and New Jersey that claim defunding would adversely affect patients and are organizing to bring affected patients to Washington, D.C., to lobby legislators.
“It’s awfully convenient that a few days after Marty Makary says that he had no plans to restrict mifepristone, but that he'd be open to considering new science, some new trash science just happens to land in his lab,” said Angela Vasquez-Giroux, vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “We will continue to do what we've always done, which is make sure that as many people as we can reach understand the difference between what they put out and real science.”
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
This initiative, which has been informally dubbed “Rolling Thunder,” marks the first significant campaign from the movement under the second Trump administration that focuses on abortion pills. The goal is to persuade the FDA, Congress, and the courts to impose stricter regulations on these medications.
During the early months of the Trump administration, there was little focus on abortion medication, with the administration even submitting a court brief aimed at maintaining access. However, activists are now hoping that a report from the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center will galvanize action among those in power.
This recent paper claims that a greater number of patients have suffered severe side effects from mifepristone than previously acknowledged. However, medical experts and advocates for abortion rights argue that the report inflates the risks associated with a drug deemed safe and effective by over 100 scientific studies.
The timing of the report coincides with comments from prominent Trump administration officials—like Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA chief Marty Makary—who have indicated a willingness to consider new evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of abortion pills.
Maria Baer, a podcast host with the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, remarked on a private Zoom call that the data could be utilized as leverage to urge the FDA and lawmakers to reevaluate or even suspend the approval of mifepristone until additional research is conducted. This call included representatives from various anti-abortion groups, such as Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Americans United for Life, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Students for Life, and Live Action.
Mifepristone, a key drug involved in approximately two-thirds of abortions in the U.S., has been a longstanding target for conservative activists who view it as the core reason for the rise in abortions following Roe's reversal in 2022 and as a means for women to bypass state restrictions.
The coalition also aims to use the report to pressure Congress into eliminating federal funding for Planned Parenthood, which they view as the primary distributor of the drugs, and to provide legal ammunition for prosecuting doctors who prescribe the pills in states where abortion is banned.
Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley stated he intends to introduce legislation inspired by the report that would limit access to these pills and simplify the process for patients who have taken them to sue the manufacturers, Danco and GenBioPro. He added that he is joining the groups' initiative directed at the FDA.
“Dr. Makary is in no doubt about my position on this,” Hawley said, expressing frustration that the agency has not yet moved to restrict mail deliveries of the pills. “This was much the topic of conversation during his [confirmation] hearings, and I have to say, his position now doesn't sound a lot to me like the ones he took during hearings.”
An FDA spokesperson responded by stating that the agency “rigorously evaluates the latest scientific data” and aligns a “science-based approach” with practical considerations. In response to Hawley’s remarks, the spokesperson referenced Makary's earlier statements expressing openness to regulatory changes regarding mifepristone should the data indicate the need.
The anti-abortion coalition is engaging in lobbying efforts targeting senior FDA and HHS officials and members of Congress, circulating petitions urging the administration to impose restrictions on the pills, and drafting a letter for lawmakers to sign that demands action from the agency.
Ryan Anderson, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, refrained from discussing any secured meetings with agency officials, noting he “obviously can't share information about our confidential conversations.” However, he did mention that “it's only been a week” since the report's release.
“Right away it is very clear that the release of this data … has gotten attention at the highest levels in the administration and on Capitol Hill,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, head of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
Opponents of the report, including Planned Parenthood and other abortion rights advocates, have dismissed it as “junk science.” They are mounting their own campaign to defend federal funding for reproductive health services, pointing out that the report was released by a conservative think tank rather than through a peer-reviewed medical journal.
Activists on the Zoom call countered these criticisms, claiming that the academic peer review process is “broken” and asserting distrust in potential biases from reviewers.
Dr. Christina Francis, CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs and part of a coalition of conservative physicians challenging the long-standing FDA approval of abortion pills, advised caution in distorting the paper's contents, describing it as “not a study in the traditional sense” and lacking conclusive proof. Nevertheless, she argued that it provides valid evidence that necessitates further investigation and action from the government.
“Providing women with the truth about the harms of chemical abortion, and encouraging the Trump FDA to bring doctors back into the equation and reinstate the original [President Bill] Clinton FDA safety provisions, will save lives and it will help protect women,” Anderson stated.
The anti-abortion activists emphasized that their public calls for reinstating previous federal restrictions—such as prohibitions on online prescriptions and curbside delivery of the pills, along with limiting their use to seven weeks of pregnancy—are merely a starting point. Their ultimate goal is to campaign for the removal of mifepristone from the market altogether.
Anderson outlined three key talking points for the coalition to push Congress and the Trump administration towards their objectives. First, it is impossible to realize Kennedy’s pledge to “Make America Healthy Again” without restricting access to the pills. Second, Trump’s commitment to “reverse damaging policies” from the Biden administration should include FDA regulations that ease access to these medications. Lastly, the assertion that Trump intends to leave decisions on abortion regulation to the states is undermined if California can deliver pills to Texas.
The coalition believes that recent comments from Kennedy and Makary indicate a willingness to consider changes to the regulation of mifepristone. Makary indicated last week that, while there are no current plans to restrict access to the drug, this stance could change.
“I believe as a scientist, that you’ve got to evolve as the data comes in,” he stated. “So if the data suggests something or tells us that there's a real signal, then I — we can't promise we're not going to act on that.”
Kennedy has similarly indicated that Trump has tasked him with investigating the drug's safety.
“Kennedy has said he wants to dig into this question of harms to women, and you provided him this data,” noted Dannenfelser on the Zoom call, as she outlined her approach to engage with the health secretary directly.
Baer, who advises the coalition on messaging, stated that they will also seek to shift public opinion on mifepristone through various online and in-person initiatives nationwide, starting with a webinar on May 14.
“We need to help to create a better, more accurate sense of this medication culturally, which is that it is not something to be taken lightly,” she said. “It shouldn't be prescribed lightly, and it shouldn't be thought of as an easy or uncomplicated fix to a crisis.”
John Mize, CEO of Americans United for Life, added that another aspect of the “Rolling Thunder” plan entails using the report on mifepristone to litigate against physicians in states with shield laws who prescribe the medication across state lines. They are collaborating with the Center for Client Safety, an organization that aims to “shut down abortion facilities to protect women and save preborn lives.” Their strategy involves pursuing False Claims Act lawsuits against doctors for representing the drugs as safe.
Ryan Anderson and other critics of the report emphasize concerns regarding its credibility, with Brittni Frederiksen, associate director for Women’s Health Policy at KFF, highlighting inaccuracies within the report, such as labeling ectopic pregnancies—situations where the embryo implants outside the uterus—as an “adverse event,” despite the fact that the pills are not indicated for such cases.
“There's just so many things wrong with it and so many red flags,” Frederiksen commented. “I can't imagine any medical journal that would accept this.”
Supporters of abortion rights are mobilizing to counter the “Rolling Thunder” campaign, defend mifepristone's safety and effectiveness, and advocate for continued federal funding for Planned Parenthood and similar organizations.
Progressive advocates, wishing to remain anonymous, have expressed relief that the report has received limited attention beyond conservative media and that only a handful of GOP lawmakers, including Hawley, have championed it. They are contemplating reaching out to the FDA to urge the retention of access to the pills, positioning themselves for potential legal action if restrictions are imposed.
Planned Parenthood’s advocacy group is actively working to sustain the significant federal funding it receives annually. The organization has executed over 100 outreach events in critical congressional districts, with targeted efforts in the Carolinas, Iowa, and Pennsylvania, during recent congressional recesses. They are investing in advertisements in states like Colorado, Iowa, and New Jersey that claim defunding would adversely affect patients and are organizing to bring affected patients to Washington, D.C., to lobby legislators.
“It’s awfully convenient that a few days after Marty Makary says that he had no plans to restrict mifepristone, but that he'd be open to considering new science, some new trash science just happens to land in his lab,” said Angela Vasquez-Giroux, vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “We will continue to do what we've always done, which is make sure that as many people as we can reach understand the difference between what they put out and real science.”
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
