Pentagon Ends Paid Travel Expenses and Time Off for Abortions
The Pentagon has ended its policy of reimbursing travel expenses and granting up to three weeks off for servicemembers who travel to obtain abortions.
In a new document dated January 29, 2025, the Department of Defense (DOD) rescinded its previous policy “Travel for Non-Covered Reproductive Health Care Services.” The new guidance was issued by Jeffrey R. Register, Director of the Defense Human Resources Activity, in direct response to President Donald J. Trump’s January 24 executive order, Enforcing the Hyde Amendment.
The Hyde Amendment, passed in 1976, forbids any federal funding for abortions, with exceptions to save the life of the mother and to allow for cases of rape and incest.
President Trump’s executive order reinstated Hyde Amendment protections, and revoked Biden administration executive orders that violated the amendment. The president’s order stated that “It is the policy of the United States, consistent with the Hyde Amendment, to end the forced use of Federal taxpayer dollars to fund or promote elective abortion.”
Under the Biden administration, on October 20, 2022, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin issued a memorandum directing the DOD to ensure that servicemembers and their dependents were able to access so-called reproductive health care services, including abortions. The secretary’s memorandum was issued in response to the Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
Implementing that guidance, Under Secretary of Defense Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. issued the abortion travel policy on February 16, 2023. It included the following:
Under that policy, the DOD would use taxpayer dollars to pay travel expenses to send female servicemembers and their dependents out of state to get abortions but wouldn’t pay for the procedure itself.
By March 2024, according to the Pentagon, the policy had been used to facilitate the killing of at least 12 preborn babies, costing the department $44,791. However, the number of times the policy was used, and the cost of the policy, is likely higher since the Pentagon has not provided new data in recent months.
The prompt move by the Pentagon to rescind the abortion travel guidance just nine days into the new Trump administration comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated he would end the policy during his Senate confirmation hearing.
During the hearing, Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-HI, asked Hegseth about the military’s abortion travel policy.
“Current DOD policy allows servicemembers and eligible dependents to be reimbursed for travel associated with non-covered reproductive healthcare, including abortions. Will you maintain this commonsense policy?” Sen. Hirono asked.
“I’ve always been personally pro-life,” Hegseth responded, “I don’t think the federal government should be funding travel for abortion.”
On January 31, Senator Tommy Tuberville, who has been one of the leading advocates against the Pentagon’s abortion travel policy, posted on X: “President Trump and Secretary Hegseth affirmed today what I’ve been fighting for since I got to Washington: ZERO taxpayer dollars should go towards abortions.”
Defense Secretary Hegseth reshared Sen. Tuberville’s statement, writing, “Thank you for your leadership, Coach.”
It’s maddening the previous administration flouted federal law and used our taxpayer dollars to facilitate the killing of preborn children. Praise God that the Pentagon, under new leadership, has placed the abortion travel policy where it belongs – the ash heap of history. The lives of preborn children, and potential future soldiers, will likely be saved as a result.
If you are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy and want to learn more about your options, visit My Choice Network.
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Senator Tuberville Continues Courageous Pro-Life Campaign Against Pentagon’s Abortion Policy
U.S. Military to Receive Time Off and Travel Expenses to Obtain Abortions
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