The Department of the Navy will no longer cover travel-related expenses or provide leave for abortions for Marines and sailors, according to a policy released Friday.
Under the new policy, service members will need to provide travel and leave expenses for service members seeking non-covered reproductive care that is not abortion, a change from the Biden era policy that also covered abortion.
Non-covered reproductive care, which means services not covered by Tricare, the military’s insurance, includes ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, sperm collection and processing, intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization. They are the only services covered, according to the NAVADMIN, signed by Acting Secretary of the Navy Terence Emmert.
The policy applies to both active and reserve sailors and Marines who are seeking the services or accompanying a spouse or dependent. Travel will be provided if the reproductive services are not local, while administrative leave must be provided, even if the procedures are local. Travel funding is the responsibility of the authorizing command, according to the policy.
While administrative absences can be up to 21 days, they will be limited to the minimum number of days for the procedure and travel, according to the policy. Convalescent leave may also be granted.
The majority of the policy echoes the travel policy under the Biden administration, with the exception of no longer covering abortion.
The policy change comes after a Jan. 24 executive order, “Enforcing the Hyde Amendment,” which rescinded two Biden administration executive orders, which aimed to expand access to reproductive care, including abortion, following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Clinic decision that gave states the right to decide abortion policies.
Under the Biden Administration, former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin instructed the military to provide travel and leave for service members seeking non-covered reproductive care. The policy to allow for travel for abortions led to a protest by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who prevented the Senate from voting on defense nominations, delaying the confirmation of senior military officers for months.
