Health Sec Becerra on FDA possibly ignoring judge's abortion drug ban: 'Everything is on the table'

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra implied Sunday he might defy a judge's order last week stopping the distribution of the abortion drug mifepristone.

The federal judge in Texas, Matthew Kacsmaryk, made the ruling Friday on the medication but put it on hold for a week so federal officials could file a challenge.

"We want the courts to overturn this reckless decision," Becerra, the Biden administration's top health official, told CNN.

"We intend to do everything to make sure it’s available to them not just in a week, but moving forward, period, because mifepristone is one of the safest and most effective medicines that we have seen over the last 20 years to help women with their health care, especially abortion care."

Asked whether he might recommend the Food and Drug Administration ignore a ban, Becerra said, "Everything is on the table."

President Biden has said his administration will fight the ruling, according to the Associated Press.

Two separate and conflicting court rulings were made Friday, in Texas and Washington, over the legality of mifepristone, adding confusion to the matter. The FDA approved the drug in 2000.