Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement on May 2, 2026, criticizing the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that restricts access to mifepristone, an abortion medication. - The ruling impacts the FDA's 2023 REMS program that expanded mifepristone access.
- Newsom highlighted the disproportionate effect on women in rural and underserved areas. - He vowed California will continue to defend reproductive rights against external challenges.
The decision marks another legal hurdle in the ongoing national debate over abortion access, with California positioning itself as a stronghold for reproductive freedom.