From the One Big Beautiful Bill Act provision to defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers for one year to the Food and Drug Administration leadership committing to a review of the abortion pill, 2025 marked the most decisive victories for life since the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Recent YouGov polling shows that fewer than 1 in 10 people support the “anytime, for any reason” stance of the Democratic Party platform, while nearly 7 in 10 support some limits on abortion. These data reveal a wide-open window of public support for President Donald Trump to deliver key wins in 2026 and energize the GOP’s pro-life base ahead of midterm elections.
To ease tension on Capitol Hill, the Trump administration can signal its support for Hyde Amendment protections during upcoming healthcare plan negotiations. When Congress returns next month, the question of whether to extend the Obamacare subsidies or finalize a new Republican plan will dominate debate both inside the Capitol and among the public.
Extending Hyde provisions offers a clear and popular path forward. Since the Hyde Amendment’s passage in 1976, most people have consistently agreed that taxpayer dollars should not fund elective abortion. If Democrats acknowledge this enduring support among their own constituents, Congress can move ahead on common ground resembling the amendment’s bipartisan roots.
The Trump administration also has an opportunity to secure a second major victory. With the groundwork already laid from the administration’s promise of an independent review of the chemical abortion drug mifepristone, completing the FDA review would be a natural next step.
Supported by the federal government’s vast resources and expertise, a prioritized review under FDA Commissioner Marty Makary could deliver an early win for both the Trump administration and the pro-life movement. Public opinion has continued to shift in this direction.
The pro-life movement has been hard at work educating the public on the dangers of chemical abortion to women and preborn children. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s December poll, public confidence in abortion pills has declined sharply. In 2023, 55% of people agreed that abortion pills were safe when taken as directed. In the most recent poll, only 42% still agree. When less than half of the public does not believe abortion pills are safe, Republicans have little to fear in protecting people from these dangerous drugs.
OVER 100 PRO-LIFE ORGANIZATIONS ASK CONGRESS TO END FORCED TAXPAYER ABORTION FUNDING
But Trump does not need a scientific review to know mail-order chemical abortion is harming women, with many having abortions forced on them. The Comstock Act stands ready with provisions in place that restrict the abortion pill from being sent through the mail, often across state lines or into the hands of abusers. No new legislation is necessary. If Trump and the Justice Department only enforce these provisions, mail-order abortion would see an immediate end.
Each of these wins presents immediate hope not only to the pro-life movement but to women and preborn children, now and for decades to come. Trump can cement his legacy to the movement and garner support for the coming midterm elections by fulfilling his promises to the people, claiming victory over abortion in 2026.
Gavin Oxley is a pro-life media and policy strategist, currently serving as media relations manager for Americans United for Life. Follow him on X @realgavinoxley.