Costco’s decision not to sell the abortion pill mifepristone at its U.S. pharmacies has ignited a fresh round of debate in the ongoing national battle over access to reproductive health care. The announcement, made public in mid-August 2025, came after more than a year of internal deliberation and mounting pressure from advocacy groups on both sides of the issue, as detailed by Newsweek, Reuters, The Washington Post, The Street, and The Hill.
“Our position at this time not to sell mifepristone, which has not changed, is based on the lack of demand from our members and other patients, who we understand generally have the drug dispensed by their medical providers,” Costco said in a statement to Reuters. The company operates approximately 550 pharmacies nationwide and is known for its bulk bargains and extensive prescription drug offerings. Yet, when it came to mifepristone, company officials cited insufficient consumer interest as the primary reason for their decision.
This seemingly straightforward explanation, however, belies a more complicated reality. The move followed a concerted campaign by religious and conservative groups—including the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and Inspire Investing—who have been lobbying major retailers not to stock abortion medications. Their efforts were not limited to Costco; they have also targeted other retail giants such as Kroger, Walmart, and CVS, as reported by The Street.
Michael Ross, legal counsel for ADF, told Newsweek, “We applaud Costco for doing the right thing by its shareholders and resisting activist calls to sell abortion drugs. Retailers like Costco keep their doors open by selling a lifetime of purchases to families, both large and small. They have nothing to gain and much to lose by becoming abortion dispensaries.” Ross further emphasized, “Retail pharmacies exist to serve the health and wellness of their customers, but abortion drugs like mifepristone undermine that mission by putting women’s health at risk.”
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from advocates of expanded abortion access. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who previously sent letters to Costco urging the company to become certified to dispense mifepristone, called the move “disappointing and short-sighted.” Speaking to Bloomberg, Lander warned, “Failure to provide access to proven safe and FDA-approved medication under the guise of ‘weak demand’ risks isolating customers and undermines the company’s credibility.” Lander has also pressed other major retailers to improve access to the drug, arguing that not doing so puts women’s reproductive health care at risk.
Mifepristone, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000, is the first of two medications typically used in a medication abortion. It works by blocking progesterone, a hormone necessary for maintaining the lining of the uterus during pregnancy. The second drug, misoprostol, is then taken to complete the abortion process. Together, the regimen is considered the most common method of ending pregnancies in the United States, according to The Washington Post.
The controversy over Costco’s decision is taking place against the backdrop of a nation still reeling from the Supreme Court’s 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. In the years since, states have enacted a patchwork of abortion laws, with some imposing near-total bans and others maintaining more permissive access. Despite these efforts to restrict abortion, medication abortion remains available in all 50 states, including through remote prescriptions and mail delivery, as noted by The Washington Post.
Retailers have found themselves in the crosshairs of this contentious debate. Some, like Walgreens and CVS, have received certification to dispense mifepristone in states where it is legal, following an FDA policy change that made it easier for pharmacies to distribute the drug in person or by mail. Walgreens’ website states, “The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on mifepristone access allows Walgreens to continue to dispense mifepristone under the FDA guidelines.” Meanwhile, Kroger is reviewing the FDA’s updated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program for the drug, and CVS fills prescriptions for mifepristone where legally permissible, according to Reuters.
Costco’s decision, while celebrated by anti-abortion groups, is only a partial victory for their cause. Medication abortion remains widely accessible, and other retailers continue to provide the service in accordance with state and federal law. Arun Sundaram, a senior analyst at CFRA, told Reuters, “Many retailers have become more cautious about taking overt political or social stances after recent controversies triggered boycotts, negative media coverage, and polarized consumer reactions.” This caution likely factored into Costco’s calculus, as the company has previously faced political pressure and calls for boycotts over unrelated issues, including its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Religious and conservative financial groups, such as Inspire Investing, have signaled that their campaign is far from over. Tim Schwarzenberger, director of corporate engagement at Inspire Investing, told Bloomberg, “We have this momentum. Now there is a chance to turn to some of the other retailers.” The coalition’s efforts are expected to continue, with a focus on persuading additional companies to follow Costco’s lead.
On the other side, reproductive rights advocates worry about the implications of major retailers refusing to dispense FDA-approved medications. They argue that such decisions could further limit options for women, particularly those in states with restrictive abortion laws or limited access to healthcare providers. As The Hill reported, Emily Erin Davis of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America praised Costco’s move as a message that the company “won’t be complicit in the abortion industry’s agenda to sell dangerous abortion drugs.” Meanwhile, supporters of access like Lander maintain that “by failing to become certified mifepristone dispensers, these pharmacy giants put both women’s reproductive health care and investors’ money at risk.”
In July 2025, a federal district court issued a preliminary injunction blocking part of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which restricted Medicaid funding to healthcare providers performing abortions and receiving significant federal reimbursements. Planned Parenthood warned that the move could force nearly 200 of its centers to close, further complicating access for patients who rely on those services, according to Newsweek.
Costco, for its part, has not commented on whether the decision was influenced by advocacy campaigns. The company maintains that its stance is rooted in consumer demand—or the lack thereof. Danco Laboratories, the manufacturer of the mifepristone regimen, did not respond to requests for comment, and Walmart also declined to weigh in, as Reuters noted.
The debate over mifepristone at Costco is emblematic of the larger struggle over reproductive rights in America. While anti-abortion groups celebrate a symbolic win, and reproductive rights advocates lament a lost opportunity for expanded access, the practical impact for most patients remains limited—at least for now. The battle over who decides what medications Americans can access, and where, is far from over.
