WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hilary K. Perkins, the recently appointed top lawyer at the Food and Drug Administration and a known evangelical Christian, has resigned amid escalating pressures from Senator Josh Hawley, who also shares evangelical beliefs. Her resignation follows a series of conflicts rooted in differing interpretations of legal duties and personal faith-related stances on abortion.
Perkins, who stepped into the Department of Justice in 2019, expressed the difficulty of her position which involved defending policies under administrations with opposing views on abortion—first under Donald Trump and then under Joe Biden. Such professional obligations led her to defend the availability of mifepristone, an abortion drug, which has been legally available since its FDA approval back in 2000.
In her defense, Perkins contended that her role was to uphold the law rather than personal beliefs, a standard practice for attorneys in the DOJ. However, her activities under the Biden administration drew criticism from Senator Hawley who labeled her as “this Biden lawyer” and accused her of advocating for what he termed ‘Biden’s outrageous pro-abortion rules.’
These accusations escalated when Perkins opposed Erin Hawley, Senator Hawley’s wife and a senior counsel to the Alliance Defending Freedom, before the Supreme Court regarding the availability of mifepristone. Senator Hawley, voicing stern opposition to Perkins’ role in the Trump-appointed position, threatened to block Trump’s nominee to head the FDA if Perkins remained in her post.
Despite the pressures and controversies, Perkins reiterated her commitment to her professional role and her alignment with conservative, pro-life Christian values. “I am not who he says I am,” Perkins stated, emphasizing that her actions were in line with her oath as a career attorney.
The ripple effects of the conflict reached into perspectives on power dynamics within Washington, with some insiders noting the influential role of Erin Hawley in legal circles focused on Christian conservative agendas, contrasting her substantive impact with her husband’s more public-facing political endeavors.
Critics and advocates alike have weighed in on the saga—Tim Goeglein, a top executive at Focus on the Family, has openly defended Perkins’ pro-life credentials despite the organization’s praise of Hawley’s alignment with their conservative values. This scenario underscores the intricate and often contentious interplay of politics, religion, and law enforcement roles.
Moreover, the situation highlights ongoing national debates about the extent of religious convictions shaping public duties and judicial decisions, as evoked in Senator Hawley’s broader calls for a revival of Christian influence across American politics and culture.
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