keeping federal rules in place temporarily while it considers lower court rulings that restricted its use or banned it out right. this avoids a dramatic rollback that was set to kick in at midnight tonight. here is abc s rachel scott. reporter: tonight the supreme court allowing the abortion pill mifepristone stay widely available for now but putting on hold the several major restrictions that were set to go into effect in just a matter of hours. just as samuel alito issued a administrative state. keeping the status quo for the pill used in more than half abortions in the u.s. while the justices take more time to fully consider the court challenge. we hope that this and confusion as federal judges issued conflicting rulings over access to the abortion drug. the biden administration asked the supreme court to intervene and block restrictions that would have gone into effect
the united states and around the world. i m christine romans. this is early start a busy morning. we begin with breaking news. a short time ago, a federal appeals court took action to keep the abortion pill mifepristone on the market. the court blocked the parts of a texas judge order that would have suspended fda approval of the drug. now the fda approval will stay in effect, while the court considers an expedited appeal. but important here, the fifth circuit appeals court is leaving in place parts of the ruling that will, in effect, make the pill harder to get. the fda tried to ease access in recent years by allowing the drug to be mailed and by approving a generic version. for now, those changes that make it easier for people to get the drug. those changes remain suspended. this medication has been approved as safe and effective for uses an abortion pill for more than two decades. but it s possible removal from pharmacies could affect every american senior medical correspondent eliz
- [announcer] do you have an invention idea but don t know what to do next? call invent help today. they can help you get started with your idea. call now 800-710-0020. a federal judge in texas says he will decide as soon as possible whether to overturn fda approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. trump appointed judge matthew kacsmaryk heard about four hours of arguments on wednesday and suggested he is seriously considering undoing federal approval of what is a widely used abortion drug. this has been available for more than 20 years. and medication is the most common method of abortion in the u.s. if the judge rules in favor of the anti-abortion plaintiffs, it could have profound consequences nationwide. i want to bring in cnn justice