U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Federal Abortion‑Pill Policy Amid Campus Access Debate

The University of Oregon announced plans to dispense the abortion pill combination mifepristone and misoprostol to students starting in fall 2026, sparking criticism that the medication carries serious health risks and that young women may lack adequate information.

Separately, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted Louisiana’s request to block a Biden‑era FDA policy that removed the requirement for an in‑person visit before prescribing mifepristone, effectively limiting mail‑order abortion access. The ruling follows the case of Rosalie Markezich, who says a package of the pills was sent to her without consent, leading to a traumatic home abortion and prompting her testimony before Congress.

Both developments highlight ongoing legal and public‑health disputes over the availability of chemical abortions in the United States.