The Pentagon has reversed a Biden administration policy that reimbursed service members and dependents for travel to states where abortions and other reproductive health procedures are legal. The move, which was made immediately, has drawn criticism from women in Congress. This decision reverses a 2023 policy enacted under then Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin after the repeal of Roe v Wade, which provided paid leave and travel reimbursement for troops and their families who had to cross state lines for reproductive care due to restrictions in their stationed state. Republicans, such as Sen. Tommy Tuberville, have argued against taxpayer money funding abortions and have praised the reversal of the policy. The Pentagon memo cited an executive order by President Donald Trump enforcing the Hyde Amendment to prevent federal funds from supporting abortion. However, Sen. Elizabeth Warren criticized the move, stating that it makes troops and the nation less safe by limiting access to critical reproductive care. While defense officials claim that the number of troops using this benefit is small, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy pilot, believes the decision could endanger women’s lives, especially in states with severe abortion bans. She emphasized that servicewomen should not have to risk their lives for reproductive care while stationed in states with restrictive laws.
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