State and local leaders are coming together to fight back against a court ruling that plans to undo the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of a popular abortion medication.  

The injunction was introduced by a Texas judge last week against mifepristone, but will have nationwide impacts, including in New York where abortion rights are protected.  

The ruling requires drug manufacturers to halt production of Mifepristone while the case proceeds, claiming that the FDA did not properly study the drug when approving it decades ago. The drug is often taken in combination with Misoprostol to end early pregnancies.  

Planned Parenthood of Greater new York held a press conference on Tuesday morning, joined by Gov. Kathy Hochul and other elected officials. Hochul says the state will be stockpiling misoprostol, securing a five-year supply, and that New York will take further measures if the court’s ruling is upheld.  

“We will dedicate up to $20 million more for reproductive healthcare providers beyond our current $35 million to support methods of access to other forms of care including procedures,” said Hochul. “We're in conversation with the legislature right now to require private insurance to cover medication abortions when it's prescribed off-label.” 

This ruling has caught the attention of local OB-GYN’s who say the decision has harsh implications for maternal mortality. 

“Women are going to do what they need to do to terminate a pregnancy and it may not be within a medical framework to do it safely,” said Dr. Kecia Gaither, director of perinatal services and maternal-fetal medicine at a Bronx hospital. “You know, we're going to go back to what we saw years before where women are going to be dying from septic abortions.” 

The Department of Justice has already filed an appeal, and the Biden administration has voiced their support in protecting abortion rights.