People in New York City had strong reactions to the conflicting rulings of federal judges and the uncertain status of one of the drugs used to terminate pregnancies in the U.S. for more than two decades. 

A judge in Texas, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, halted the approval of the abortion medication Mifepristone Friday evening, only giving the federal government seven days to appeal.

But that ruling came down a little before another federal judge in Washington state, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, ordered U.S. authorities to not make changes that would restrict access to the drug.

“Mifepristone has been on the market for a very long time and we have over 23 years of safety data in over five million patients demonstrating how safe and effective this medication is,” said Dr. Gabriela Aguilar, regional medical director for Planned Parenthood of Greater New York.

The drug is one of two that are used in medication abortions and medical management of a miscarriage. The second, misoprostol, can be used alone, but the method is less effective.

“Just because we can do that doesn’t mean that we should. This decision is politically motivated and highly interfering into the sacred relationship between a physician and their patient,” said Aguilar.

Mayor Eric Adams and leaders in the Adams administration released a statement Friday night to vow to fight the potential federal court ruling.

“While women here in New York still have other options for abortion, even if this Texas decision is allowed to stand, they and women from across the country should know that our administration will fight every day to stop efforts to control women’s bodies, their choices, and their freedoms,” Adams wrote in a statement.

People who were strolling Manhattan had opposing thoughts on the drug.

“I don’t think they should have an abortion because that’s a sin to have an abortion,” said Eric Camacho.

“I think it’s unfair for the government to be involved in and I respect people’s right to have those beliefs. But it’s, you know, that these things should be banned, but they shouldn’t be superimposed onto other people that based completely conflating religion and state,” said Nicole Jones.

“It’s very disturbing to me to think that other people want to control the way women make choices about their body,” said Linda Quinn, who is visiting from Atlanta, Georgia.

If the Texas judge’s ruling stands, medical experts are concerned about what it could mean for other medications.

“We are very afraid that the next step is not only banning these approach styles but also medications that are used for contraception to prevent pregnancy,” Aguilar said.