On Veterans Day, Trump and Anti-Abortion Extremists are Making it Harder for Veterans to Access Care

Veterans are being targeted in Trump administration’s national abortion ban push.

WASHINGTON, DC –– Today, the Trump administration intends to honor the men and women who have served our country, while simultaneously working to gut access to essential health care for servicemembers and veterans nationwide. In August, the Trump Administration proposed new rules that would prevent veterans from accessing abortion care or counseling through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system. The new rules would mean that hospitals and doctors affiliated with the VA will no longer offer abortion services to veterans who became pregnant through rape or incest.

Additional context: Before SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade, the VA banned abortion under any circumstances and prohibited its medical providers from counseling patients about abortion. However, after the Dobbs decision, President Biden enacted a rule allowing VA medical facilities to offer abortion counseling and abortion care to veterans and their beneficiaries in certain situations. The Biden Administration also supported facilitating travel for service members and their families to access reproductive health care services.

Bottomline: The Trump administration is attacking veterans and their ability to receive health care by gutting veterans’ access to health care, including lifesaving abortion care. 

“The same people who say abortion should be ‘left up to the states’ are using every tool they can to ban abortion nationwide, and veterans are paying the price,” said Veronica Ingham, Senior Campaigns Director for Free & Just. “Under Trump, millions of veterans in states with abortion bans could lose access to comprehensive reproductive health care and counseling. This administration has proven time and time again that they will use whatever means necessary to ban abortion, no matter who it harms.” 

“There seems to be no end to this administration's attacks on health care, even towards those who bravely protected and served this country," said Carrie Frail, an airforce veteran from Missouri who credits her abortion with helping her escape an abusive relationship, and ultimately, saving her life. “The Trump administration is playing political games to advance a larger agenda fueled by hate and anti-abortion extremism. Abortion care is life-saving care, and should be accessible to anyone who needs it without government interference.”

“Today is meant to be a day to honor the men and women who pledged their lives to defend our country. Instead, we are reminded that this administration does not care about veterans or our families,” said Joanna Sweatt, National Organizing Director for Common Defense and Arizona-based Marine Corps veteran. “Receiving abortion care allowed me to serve my country while raising a healthy family on my own terms. I stand with my fellow women in uniform who deserve access to comprehensive health care, and condemn this administration for their continued efforts to turn back the clock on access to reproductive care.” 

“In this time of uncertainty and chaos, veterans stand up for the rights of all citizens because we took the oath to support the constitution — not a regime who uses us as pawns for their own political interests. That oath does not expire,” said Sylvia Andersh, an Air Force veteran and first-generation Mexican immigrant who had an abortion in 1978 while on active duty. “Today veterans are some of the first ones attacked, losing rights to care, and losing support from this administration. Women veterans are the bellwether of the harm and the disrespect and contempt this administration has for all Americans who are not billionaires.”

If you are interested in speaking to storytellers about the impacts of the administration's attacks on abortion care for veterans, please contact Malachi White, malachi@freeandjust.us. 

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Free & Just is fighting to stop attacks on reproductive freedom and rights. We’re working with people across the country to share real stories to show the devastating consequences of attacks on our reproductive freedom. We all deserve the right to control our bodies and lives. That’s why we’re sharing our stories, raising our voices, and fighting for our future.