Press Releases

DWC Chair Teresa Leger Fernández, Armed Services Veterans Chrissy Houlahan, Mikie Sherrill, and Maggie Goodlander Denounce Department of Defense Cuts to Servicewomen’s Health Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Just days into Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership of the Department of Defense (DoD), the DoD rescinded the policy that allowed servicewomen to be reimbursed for travel to receive reproductive health care including abortion and fertility care. The Democratic Women’s Caucus fought hard for this critical health benefit, which ensured servicewomen could serve their country and receive the critical care they need, even if they were stationed in a state with an abortion ban.

Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) released the following statement: 

“Secretary Hegseth’s decision to strip servicewomen’s ability to travel for fertility, contraception, and abortion care is devastating and unacceptable. Servicewomen will lose access to care because it is illegal or inaccessible in the place where they are stationed. Many will have to make impossible choices about how they will access critical reproductive health services like IVF. Others will be forced to carry pregnancies against their will. How can Secretary Hegseth tell the over 386,300 servicewomen fighting every day for the rights and freedoms of every person in this country that they cannot have the freedom and support to make their own health care decisions? DWC fought for this critical policy, and we will fight harder to bring it back—every servicewoman deserves access to all reproductive care options.”

DWC’s Servicewomen, Women Veterans, & Military Families Task Force Chair Chrissy Houlahan, (PA-06), and DWC members Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-2), all U.S. armed services veterans, released the following statement:

“As women who have served this country and know firsthand the hardships that military families face, Secretary Hegseth’s decision to strip critical protections away from service members will have devastating consequences. Reproductive health care, including fertility and abortion care, is essential to ensuring that everyone can make informed and timely decisions about their health and well-being. We are asking that these women not be stopped from accessing care based on the duty station to which they are assigned and that they maintain the ability to travel for critical health care that allows them to decide when and if they have a family.

Supporting the health of our service members is not just a moral responsibility — it is critical to protecting our readiness and national security. Service members face unique barriers to care. Many are stationed in states where abortion is banned or completely out of reach. The Department’s decision is plainly cruel and discriminatory, and it could mean service members or loved ones may be forced to carry a pregnancy against their will or give up on their plans to have a family while serving.

As veterans, we fought and stood for the freedoms of every person in this country. Now, we must fight to protect members of our military — including their right to access the health care they need when and where they need it. We call on Secretary Hegseth, who said repeatedly in his confirmation hearings how much he respects America's female warriors, to prove it.”

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