In a perfect world, all of this would be solved by a bill codifying the right to abortion that would be passed and signed today. Beyond that, the Biden administration has several options.
First, DOD can take immediate steps to ensure all members of our service and their families have access to reproductive care. The military must develop and enforce clear directives that allow troops and their families to take leave to access abortion care, regardless of where they are stationed, in a way that preserves privacy. their. One option might be a DOD policy that would allow military doctors to prescribe convalescence to any service member who wishes to have an abortion, for whatever reason, which would allow them time out. out of state to seek abortion services. However, the service member will be at his or her own expense as military insurance cannot reimburse for abortion services unrelated to rape, incest, or the impending death of the pregnant woman.
The DOD is bound to provide comprehensive abortion services on a Hyde Amendment basis because federal funds are prevented from being spent on any abortion except in cases of rape or incest. and when the mother’s life is in danger. In those situations, regardless of the Court’s decision, women can still have an abortion on the grounds given, but many facilities and facilities do not have adequate grounds. Therefore, legislators must reconsider whether the Hyde Amendment, and the ban on comprehensive abortion services in DOD facilities, are consistent with military readiness. Politicians may have no incentive to defend reproductive rights, but the threat from a waning Army, Marine, Navy, Space Force, and Air Force could spur them to act. motion. After all, these laws represent a significantly greater risk to our national security today than they did yesterday.
In addition, the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is not dependent on Hyde, should immediately conduct a full review of the regulations governing its own restrictions on abortion care. Minister Denis McDonough could have the authority to overturn existing regulation and begin providing abortion care to VA patients. The VA has recently had a history of rewriting its own regulations — it now provides sex-determined care, once prohibited, to VA patients.
Combined, these measures could restore some of the features of choice to Americans who put their lives on the line for ours. It could help minimize the impact of the Supreme Court decision on veterans who are still in uniform and their families. But it will never be enough. In the end, only full restoration of reproductive rights will make things right.
As veterans, we have served our country to defend freedom. We will not be silent because our freedom to make choices about our bodies is taken away at home. We will not stop fighting until reproductive rights are fully restored to all our troops and to all Americans. The safety of our nation depends on it.
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