Former Vice President Mike Pence asked Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to resign. The demand came after a major controversy about the department’s safety review of the abortion pill mifepristone. This shows a growing split within the Republican party between strong anti-abortion supporters and the current administration’s efforts to find middle ground on reproductive health issues.
Pence’s political group, Advancing American Freedom Foundation, released a harsh memo explaining why Kennedy should step down. They called the HHS secretary a “progressive wolf in pro-life sheep’s clothing.” The organization said clearly that “Republicans gave RFK Jr a chance and he has failed.” The memo criticized Kennedy, saying he was confirmed because people believed he would protect vulnerable women and children, not continue “four more years of progressive pro-abortion policies at HHS.”
Pence made a direct statement on Monday, telling President Trump to take action. “Secretary Kennedy should step aside and give President Trump the opportunity to select a new HHS Secretary who will deliver pro-life results for the American people,” the former vice president said, according to HuffPost.
The abortion pill review is causing major problems for Trump’s team
The main problem is the FDA’s decision in June to do a new safety check on mifepristone. This abortion pill has been on the market for 25 years with a strong safety record. Anti-abortion groups have been pushing the department for months, claiming that mifepristone is dangerous and needs tighter access rules. Kennedy and Marty Makary, who leads the Food and Drug Administration, announced the review would go forward.
Research over many years shows that mifepristone is very safe and effective when used with misoprostol in a two-drug treatment. When used together, the medication works more than 95% of the time. Abortion rights groups and major medical organizations say this review is just a political move designed to restrict abortion access in the United States even more.
The political tensions around major health policy decisions have been rising, similar to how RFK Jr.’s FDA has forced controversial vaccine reviews that horrified health officials.
The push for the review is mostly based on a study published earlier this year by an anti-abortion think tank. Advancing American Freedom included that same report in their Monday memo as a reason for demanding the safety review. This is not the first time Pence has targeted someone in this controversy. Last week, he joined many anti-abortion groups asking FDA Commissioner Marty Makary to step down.
This aggressive approach shows the growing divide between the anti-abortion Evangelical part of the party, led by Pence, and President Trump’s administration. While President Trump once took credit for appointing the conservative Supreme Court Justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, he has since tried to appear more moderate on reproductive health issues.
This puts Kennedy and Makary right in the middle of a political battle. The Republican health care strategy has faced mounting criticism, with Trump’s recent comments revealing tensions as the strategy implodes.
The White House is not taking Pence’s demands seriously. White House spokesperson Kush Desai gave a blunt response about Pence’s opinions. “Mike Pence dreams of the day when his unsolicited opinions make him slightly relevant again. Today, however, is not that day,” Desai told the press. The White House already defended Makary last week and seems to be continuing their support for the HHS Secretary too.
Published: Dec 16, 2025 02:15 pm