FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 30, 2025

CONTACT: press@iava.org

Washington, D.C. — Today Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) released the following statement in response to the memorandum issued by the Department of Defense that rescinds the policy established by the Pentagon in 2023 to cover ‘Travel for Non-Covered Reproductive Health Care Services,’ including fertility care. 

“Yesterday’s move by the Pentagon to revoke coverage for servicemembers and their families who want access to reproductive care that isn’t covered by their military healthcare is wrongheaded and out of touch. 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. 

“What’s worse is that the new Administration isn’t just targeting those seeking abortion care, but servicemembers and their dependents seeking fertility care,” Jaslow continued. “Our men and women in the military and their families deserve access to the same type of reproductive care that their fellow Americans do, regardless of where our Commander in Chief has ordered them to go. Period. This change in policy should offend us all. Those who’re serving and sacrificing for us deserve so much better.”  

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 Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson case.  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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