The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has moved to rescind a 2022 policy that expanded veterans’ medical benefits to include elective abortions.
The proposed rule change, which the department introduced on August 4, would prevent veterans and their families from getting elective abortions on taxpayers’ dime.
The VA provides medical services to veterans and their spouses, children, survivors and caregivers. Like all federal programs, it must comply with Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxes from funding elective abortions.
Until 2022, the VA only covered abortions when a pregnancy threatened the life of the mother. But when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the VA expanded its abortion coverage to include abortions of pregnancies:
- Endangering the health of the mother.
- Resulting from rape or incest.
VA’s medical coverage guidelines include “quality of life” and “quality of daily functional level” as measurements health. Under this definition, the department could provide an abortion to a woman who believed a baby decreased her quality of life.
The 2022 expansion of VA abortion coverage coincided with the Department of Defense’s (DOD) decision to pay active servicemembers and their families to take time off and travel to get an abortion.
The DOD rescinded the policy in January for violating the Hyde Amendment. The VA argues its 2022 abortion rules should be rescinded on the same grounds.
“The [2022 rule change] contradicted decades of Federal policy against forced taxpayer funding for abortion,” it notes in a filing defending the proposed revisions.
Misuse of tax-payer money is just part of the puzzle. The VA also claims its 2022 rule change improperly leveraged federal power against the judiciary.
In 2022, the VA freely admitted it expanded abortion coverage to meet “an anticipated rise in demand as a result of the [Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade].
This line of reasoning betrays the VA’s intention to circumvent the Supreme Court’s decision reestablishing state control over abortion policy. In doing so, the VA writes:
The last administration created a purported Federal entitlement to abortion for veterans where none had existed before and without regard to state law.
The public comment period for the VA’s proposed revisions closed on September 3. If approved, the VA would return to its previous medical coverage guidelines.
“Treatment for ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages were covered under the VA’s medical benefits package prior to the 2022 [expansion],” the VA emphasizes.
“No State law prohibits treatment of ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages to save the life of a mother.”
The Daily Citizen applauds the VA for complying with federal law and addressing misuse of government power. Taxpayers should never be forced to fund elective abortions.
Additional Articles and Resources
Pentagon Ends Paid Travel Expenses and Time Off for Abortion
Trump Signs Executive Order Limiting Taxpayer Funds for Abortion
U.S. Military to Receive Time Off and Travel Expenses to Obtain Abortions
BREAKING: Trump Administration Moves to Freeze, Cut Funding to Planned Parenthood
