
The Pentagon has reversed its policy on reimbursing service members for abortion-related travel, sparking controversy and debate among lawmakers.
At a Glance
- The Department of Defense will no longer reimburse service members for out-of-state travel for reproductive health care, including abortions
- This change eliminates a policy enacted in October 2022 after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade
- The policy was rarely used, with only 12 instances from June to December 2023, costing approximately $40,000
- Conservatives praised the decision, while Democrats criticized it as harmful to military readiness and support for service members
- The policy change follows an executive order from President Trump
Pentagon Revokes Abortion Travel Reimbursement Policy
The United States Department of Defense has announced a significant change to its abortion policy, ending reimbursements for service members who travel out-of-state for reproductive health care, including abortions and fertility treatments. This decision reverses a policy that was implemented in October 2022 following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.
The memo outlining this change was signed by Jeffrey Register, Director of the Pentagon’s Human Resources Department. However, the department has not provided additional guidance on whether service members can still take time off to travel for such procedures at their own expense.
Despite the controversy surrounding the policy, its actual use was relatively limited. Pentagon officials reported that the reimbursement policy was utilized only 12 times between September 2023 and March 2024, with a total cost of approximately $40,000. It’s important to note that the policy did not cover the cost of abortions themselves, and specific medical details are protected by health privacy laws. Nonetheless, that’s $40,000 of your money.
The announcement was of course slammed by prominent Democrats.
“Our service members go wherever they need to in order to bravely serve our country — and because President Trump’s extremist Supreme Court overturned Roe, where they and their families are stationed quite literally dictates their access to critical reproductive care,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. said in a statement. “Now, Trump is turning his back on our servicemembers — and our servicewomen in particular — to score political points. It’s shameful, and will only make our troops and our nation less safe.”
The Defense Department’s medical facilities can only perform abortions in specific circumstances, such as when the pregnant person’s life is at risk or in cases of rape or incest. From 2016 to 2021, only 91 such procedures were conducted in military facilities.
Political Reactions to the Policy Change
The policy reversal has drawn strong reactions from both sides of the political aisle. Conservatives, who had criticized the original policy for using taxpayer dollars for abortion-related expenses, welcomed the change.
“The Biden administration treated taxpayers like their own personal piggy bank that they could use to bankroll their woke agenda,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville said in a statement. “President Trump and Secretary [Pete] Hegseth affirmed today what I’ve been fighting for since I got to Washington: Zero taxpayer dollars should go toward abortions.”
Senator Tuberville had previously delayed military officer promotions over the policy, arguing that it violated federal law. On the other hand, Democrats have expressed concern about the policy’s removal, emphasizing its potential impact on military readiness and support for service members, particularly women who make up over 17% of active duty military personnel.
The wins just keep rolling in.