A newly released report from National Right to Life outlines significant shifts in the post-Roe v. Wade abortion landscape, citing a sharp rise in chemical abortions, growing divisions in state policies, and renewed legislative efforts aimed at protecting women and unborn children.
The Status of Abortion in the United States 2026 finds that abortion pills now account for nearly two-thirds of abortions nationwide, driven largely by mail-order distribution across state lines. The report also notes that roughly half of U.S. states have enacted laws or constitutional measures supporting abortion access, while 19 states currently enforce protections for unborn children at or before 12 weeks of pregnancy.
According to the report, emerging research has raised concerns about complication rates associated with abortion drugs, prompting increased federal scrutiny, including review activity involving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The analysis also highlights the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal taxpayer funding for most abortions and is credited by supporters with saving millions of lives.
The report introduces model legislation known as the Abortion Pill Provider Liability and Education (APPLE) Act, designed to establish accountability standards for abortion-pill providers and expand legal recourse for women who experience complications.
“This report makes clear that while Roe is gone, the abortion industry has shifted tactics,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, pointing to increased reliance on abortion pills alongside diverging policy approaches among states.
Now in its 13th edition, the annual report reviews federal and state developments shaping abortion policy and aims to provide lawmakers and the public with an overview of ongoing legal, medical, and political trends nationwide.
Read the full report below: