Costco Wholesale Corp. will reportedly not offer the abortion drug mifepristone through its pharmacies, a move welcomed by pro-life advocates and religious organizations who say the decision reflects both sound business judgment and a commitment to customer values.
The wholesaler, known for its bulk goods and loyal customer base, told Reuters the choice was driven by a lack of demand, explaining that most patients receive the drug directly from their health care providers.
The announcement, first reported by Bloomberg, quickly drew praise from conservative groups who have long opposed expanding retail access to abortion medications.
“We applaud Costco for doing the right thing by its shareholders and resisting activist calls to sell abortion drugs,” said Michael Ross, legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative religious coalition.
Ross argued that large retailers succeed by maintaining long-term relationships with families, not by taking controversial steps that could alienate core customers. “They have nothing to gain and much to lose by becoming abortion dispensaries,” he said.
Emily Erin Davis of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America called the move a clear signal that Costco “won’t be complicit in the abortion industry’s agenda to sell dangerous abortion drugs.”
The decision stands in contrast to other major pharmacy chains. Last year, CVS and Walgreens announced they had received certification to dispense mifepristone in states where abortion remains legal.
The step followed a Food and Drug Administration policy change allowing pharmacies to provide the drug in person or by mail.
That shift prompted political pressure from the other side. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander sent letters to Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Albertsons, and McKesson urging them to seek certification to dispense the drug, warning that failure to do so would jeopardize women’s reproductive health care.
Conservative religious organizations countered with their own appeals, urging retailers not to bow to such demands. “Retail pharmacies are there to serve the health and wellness of their customers,” said Jeremy Tedesco, ADF senior counsel and senior vice president of corporate engagement. “But abortion drugs like mifepristone undermine that mission by putting women’s health at risk.”
Mifepristone, approved by the FDA in 2000, is typically used alongside misoprostol to induce an abortion. Pro-life advocates have argued that the drug poses significant risks, a position contested by abortion rights supporters.
The legal battle over access to mifepristone reached the Supreme Court last year after a challenge from anti-abortion doctors. The Court ruled unanimously that the plaintiffs did not have standing to contest the drug’s approval, leaving access in place for now.
By choosing not to carry the pill, Costco sidestepped both the legal fray and the intensifying cultural fight over abortion — a decision many conservatives see as both principled and pragmatic in an era when retail giants are often drawn into divisive political battles.
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