US military veterans may no longer receive coverage for abortions under the VA's policy change
Under the Biden administration in 2022, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) expanded abortion coverage for veterans, allowing for services in cases of rape, incest, or when the life or health of the pregnant veteran was endangered [1][2][4]. This policy was implemented to address urgent reproductive health needs, particularly in states with restrictive abortion laws following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
However, in 2025, the VA under the Trump administration has proposed a new regulation that could reverse this policy. The proposed rule aims to eliminate abortion coverage except when the life of the pregnant veteran is at risk [1][2][3][4][5]. This change would:
- Remove provisions allowing abortion coverage in cases of rape or incest.
- Stop abortion counseling related to abortion options.
- Reinstate the pre-2022 VA policy, which effectively banned abortions except in life-threatening emergencies.
- Align VA abortion coverage rules with other federal healthcare programs like Medicaid and TRICARE, which exclude most abortion services.
This shift threatens access to abortion services for veterans and their families, especially those living in states with strict abortion restrictions. The proposal is currently open for public comment through September 3, 2025, and may be adjusted before finalization.
It's important to note that about 100 veterans and 40 dependents obtain abortions using VA benefits each year, according to the VA's filings [1]. Veterans have historically faced significant barriers to reproductive health care, and with the current patchwork of abortion bans and restrictions across the country, these barriers are even steeper today.
Amy Friedrich-Karnik, director of federal policy at the Guttmacher Institute, stated that this change would cut off millions of veterans and their families from services [1]. In a letter last month, the conservative law firm Alliance Defending Freedom called on the VA to drop abortion coverage, stating that the cost takes other health resources away from veterans [1].
This represents a significant rollback of abortion rights coverage for veterans and their families within the VA healthcare system between the Biden and Trump administrations [1][2][3][4][5].
| Aspect | Biden Administration (2022-2024) | Trump Administration (2025 Proposed Rule) | |------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | Abortion coverage allowed | Yes, for rape, incest, life/health risks | No, only if life is endangered | | Abortion counseling | Allowed | Banned | | Cases of rape/incest coverage | Covered | Not covered | | Policy status | Implemented | Proposed rollback, pending finalization |
[1] Associated Press. (2022, October 17). Biden administration to expand abortion access for veterans, transgender people. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/biden-administration-expand-abortion-access-veterans-transgender-people-rcna33316
[2] Associated Press. (2022, October 17). Biden administration to expand abortion access for veterans, transgender people. The Hill. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3669227-biden-administration-to-expand-abortion-access-for-veterans-transgender-people/
[3] Associated Press. (2025, June 1). Trump administration proposes to remove abortion coverage from medical benefits for veterans and their families. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/01/trump-administration-proposes-to-remove-abortion-coverage-from-medical-benefits-for-veterans-and-their-families
[4] Associated Press. (2025, June 1). Trump administration proposes to remove abortion coverage from medical benefits for veterans and their families. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/06/01/trump-administration-proposes-to-remove-abortion-coverage-from-medical-benefits-for-veterans-and-their-families/
[5] Associated Press. (2025, June 1). Trump administration proposes to remove abortion coverage from medical benefits for veterans and their families. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/01/politics/trump-administration-proposes-to-remove-abortion-coverage-from-medical-benefits-for-veterans-and-their-families/index.html
- The proposed regulation under the Trump administration in 2025 aims to revert the federal workforce's reproductive health policy as implemented by the Biden administration in 2022, targeting workforce reimagined aspects such as abortion coverage.
- Under the proposed rule, the workforce reimagined policy, which includes health-and-wellness initiatives like abortion services, may be eliminated, potentially impacting women's health, especially in cases of rape or incest.
- The policy-and-legislation changes relating to the VA's reproductive health services could face opposition from advocacy groups, given the potential impact on millions of veterans and their families, as stated by Amy Friedrich-Karnik, director of federal policy at the Guttmacher Institute.
- This proposed rollback in abortion rights coverage within the VA healthcare system raises concerns in the general news sphere about the politics governing women's health and the potential implications for the broader workforce.
