Former Vice President Mike Pence has called for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to step down after failing to complete a safety review of the abortion medication mifepristone. In a statement, Pence asserted that Kennedy should “give President Trump the opportunity to select a new HHS Secretary who will deliver pro-life results.”
The announcement follows a memo from Pence’s Advancing American Freedom Foundation, which criticized Kennedy for being “unable or unwilling to deliver on his many promises to the pro-life movement.” The memo noted Kennedy was confirmed under the belief he would protect vulnerable women and children but has instead pursued policies expanding abortion access.
Kennedy pledged during his confirmation process to direct the Food and Drug Administration to review mifepristone’s safety, accusing the previous administration of “twisting the data.” However, the review remains incomplete despite Biden-era mail-order provisions allowing the drug to reach millions of Americans—including pro-life states. Pence emphasized Republicans gave Kennedy a chance but he has failed to meet basic standards for a pro-life administration.