Newly released military reproductive healthcare data may include abortions

Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said on Tuesday that the Defense Department spent about $45,000 reimbursing service members for travel expenses related to reproductive health visits across state lines. Singh added that the controversial new policy was used 12 times over about six months, though not necessarily by 12 different people.

Why is the military reimbursing members for reproductive travel? The DOD implemented the controversial policy last year, allowing personnel leave and reimbursed travel expenses to receive abortions across state lines. The policy also applies to military dependents. Singh said the policy gives “service members and their dependents access to non-covered reproductive healthcare.” While the measure also applied to procedures like in vitro fertilization and egg retrieval, the policy’s 2022 authorization from former U.S. Assistant Attorney General Christopher H. Schroeder centered chiefly on abortion.

Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville protested the policy by temporarily blocking military promotions in Congress. Tuberville alleged the policy violated the Hyde Amendment, which prevents the federal government from funding abortions.

Dig deeper: Read Eric Teetsel’s take on the new policy in WORLD Opinions.