The Department of Veterans Affairs has proposed reinstating a longstanding exclusion of abortion and abortion counseling from its medical benefits package. This move reverses the Biden administration’s 2022 directive to provide limited abortion access to veterans and their beneficiaries, citing a 1992 law and decades of precedent.
Veterans Affairs intends to return medical coverage and CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of VA) benefits to the pre-September 2022 standard, which excluded elective abortion services. Under that policy, abortions were only allowed if a physician certified that the life of the mother was at risk.
Abortion-rights advocates warn this could eliminate even the exceptions for rape, incest, and health risks introduced under President Biden. Roughly 55% of women veterans live in states with abortion bans or severe restrictions. They argue VA facilities were often the only accessible option for reproductive care, especially following the Dobbs decision.
The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register and is open for public comment until September 3, 2025. The Department asserts it is acting in compliance with law and not limiting care in life-threatening situations. The VA spokesperson emphasized that reinstating the exclusion restores historic norms for needed medical services.
Legal advocates from the Ethics and Public Policy Center have repeatedly urged agencies to rescind Biden-era mandates that funded elective abortion. Critics view the latest VA move as aligned with the Hyde Amendment’s prohibition on taxpayer-funded elective abortion.
Former Rep. Chris Smith (R‑NJ), Co‑Chair of the House Pro‑Life Caucus, applauded Secretary Doug Collins and President Trump for reversing what he called “the Biden administration’s illegal policy” of taxpayer-funded abortion. He stated the shift reaffirms taxpayer principles and protects unborn lives.
If finalized, the policy would also remove CHAMPVA coverage of abortion counseling and abortion services, except in cases certified to save the mother’s life. VA has invited public comment before the regulation is finalized.
The reversal underscores broader administration efforts to overturn Biden-era abortion provisions across federal agencies, including the Department of Defense and Health and Human Services. Key Trump nominees such as Doug Collins (VA) and Pete Hegseth (DoD) have signaled plans to rescind policies that expanded abortion access for veterans and service members.
This policy shift frames abortion not as a healthcare service deemed “needed” under VA’s statutory mandate, but a non-essential service excluded from veteran coverage—with the exception of crises putting life at risk.
