Supreme Court abortion ruling updates: WH warns of ‘nightmare scenarios’

The Supreme Court voted to overrule the decisions of Roe and Casey.

ByMeredith Deliso, Mark Osborne, Nadine El-Bawab, Mary Kekatos, Alexandra Svokos, Kate Pastor, Haley Yamada, Stephanie Guerilus , and Melissa Gaffney
Last Updated: June 29, 2022, 4:29 PM EDT

The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in a much-anticipated ruling Friday in one of its biggest decisions this term.

The court voted 5-4, largely along party lines, to overturn Roe and 6-3, in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which involved Mississippi's ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Abortion rights supporters react to the overturning of Roe v Wade outside the United States Supreme Court in Washington, June 24, 2022.
Mary F. Calvert/Reuters

It appeared that the panel's conservative majority of justices was ready to overturn nearly 50 years of established abortion rights after last month's leaked draft decision indicated as much.

Top headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Jun 28, 2022, 12:12 PM EDT

HHS 'unveils action plan' in response to SCOTUS decision

Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra announced Tuesday the agency is taking steps to expand access to abortion after the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade.

"Friday’s Supreme Court decision was despicable. But it was not unpredictable,” he said at a press conference.

He continued, “There is no magic bullet. But if there is something we can do, we will find it and we will do it at HHS.”

As part of the "action plan," Becerra said the agency will increase access to medication abortion, with federal law already requiring programs to provide medication abortion in certain cases like rape, incest and when woman's life in is danger.

He said he's also directing the HHS civil rights office to ensure patient privacy and non-discrimination for those seeking reproductive care and for providers.

In addition, Becerra said he is directing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to make sure family planning care, including contraceptives, are covered.

Jun 28, 2022, 12:45 PM EDT

Pharmacies limit purchases of Plan B pills

Some of the nation's largest pharmacy chains are limiting purchases of Plan B pills due to a spike in demand after the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade.

CVS and Rite Aid said customers are limited to three packages of Plan B each.

"We have ample supply of Plan B and Aftera across all of our CVS Pharmacy stores and CVS.com," CVS told ABC News in a statement. "To ensure equitable access and consistent supply on store shelves, we’ve implemented a temporary purchase limit of three on these products."

Plan B One-Step, an emergency contraceptive is seen here in this May 23, 2022 file photo.
Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman/Tribune News Service via Getty Images, FILE

Rite Aid said, “Due to increased demand, at this time we are limiting purchases of Plan B contraceptive pills to three per customer."

Plan B, also known as the "morning-after pill," is taken within days of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. It is not an abortion pill and cannot end a pregnancy once it occurs.

The Wall Street Journal first reported that stores were rationing supply, noting CVS and Walmart were among them.

Walmart did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

-ABC News' Sasha Pezenik

Jun 27, 2022, 5:43 PM EDT

Daughter of 'Jane Roe' issues statement on Supreme Court's ruling

Shelley Lynn Thornton, the biological daughter of Norma McCorvey -- the woman behind the Roe v. Wade abortion case -- issued a statement to ABC News on Monday following the Supreme Court's reversal of the landmark case.

"Too many times has a woman’s choice, voice and individual freedom been decided for her by others. Being that I am bound to the center of Roe v. Wade, I have a unique perspective on this matter specifically," Thornton said in a statement via her spokesperson, Raúl Rojas.

"I believe that the decision to have an abortion is a private, medical choice that should be between a woman, her family, and her doctor. We have lived in times of uncertainty and insecurity before, but to have such a fundamental right taken away and this ruling be overturned concerns me of what lies ahead."

-ABC News' Andrea Amiel

Jun 27, 2022, 4:57 PM EDT

Pelosi outlines Democrats' next steps in abortion fight

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent a letter Monday to House Democrats outlining possible next steps to expand abortion access after the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade.

"While this extremist Supreme Court works to punish and control the American people, Democrats must continue our fight to expand freedom in America. Doing so is foundational to our oath of office and our fidelity to the Constitution," she wrote.

Pelosi said possible next steps include protecting women's personal data in reproductive apps so it can't be used against them in a state that criminalizes abortion as well as making it clear Americans have the right to travel freely throughout the U.S. in response to states attempting to criminalize those who travel out-of-state for an abortion.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks to reporters minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v Wade, which guaranteed a woman's right to an abortion, in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center on June 24, 2022 in Washington.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

She added that she will work to pass legislation that codifies a woman's right to an abortion, which was passed by the House in September 2021 but blocked in the Senate.

Pelosi added legislation will also be introduced to "further codify" marriage equality and women's access to contraception and IVF, after Justice Clarance Thomas wrote in a concurring opinion the court should reexamine rulings on these topics.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan