FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2025

CONTACT: press@iava.org

Washington, D.C. — Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) released the following statement in response to today’s news that the Pentagon revised guidance it issued last month to fully rescind the policy established by the Pentagon in 2023 to cover ‘Travel for Non-Covered Reproductive Health Care Services,’ including fertility care. 

“When IAVA asked our veteran members if they supported the previous Administration stepping in to make sure troops and their families and veterans had access to the reproductive care that they need post-Dobbs decision, 68% said they did, while only 20% opposed,” said IAVA CEO and Iraq War veteran, Allison Jaslow. “The aggressive action taken by the new Administration that didn’t just target those seeking travel for abortion care, but servicemembers and their dependents seeking fertility care was woefully out of touch. The recent policy revision to cover the costs for members of the military and their families to travel for in-vitro fertilization treatment is a reflection of that reality.” 

Today’s news came after IAVA denounced the reversal of the Biden Administration’s policy to cover travel for reproductive health care services to offer additional support for servicemembers and their families that suddenly found themselves stationed in states with regressive abortion laws after the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson case.  

“This is a step in the right direction for the Pentagon, but the support that we give to women in the military and military families can’t stop there,” Jaslow continued. “Those who’re serving and sacrificing so much for us deserve safe access to the full spectrum of reproductive care that they need and deserve.” 

IAVA veterans not once, but twice in recent years have expressed strong support for the administrative action that was taken at DoD and VA to get members of the military, their dependents and America’s veterans greater access to reproductive care following the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling.  More detail on our 2023 member survey that asked about this can be found here and our 2024 membership data on this topic can be found here.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is the leading voice of the Post-9/11 generation of American veterans. We represent over 425,000 members, and our best-in-class, non-partisan advocacy on behalf of the post-9/11 generation of veterans has chalked up big wins for our community – and America – for 20 years and counting.

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