The U.S. Department of the Navy has discontinued leave and travel reimbursements for Marines and sailors who take time off to undergo abortions.
The policy still provides access to reproductive care but not abortion. The reproductive services that are not covered by military insurance and still allowed include ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, sperm collection and processing, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization.
The Navy’s move comes after President Donald Trump resumed enforcement of the Hyde Amendment, which prevents the federal government from using taxpayer dollars to pay for elective abortions. The Department of Defense then swiftly rescinded the Biden administration’s policy of reimbursing service members for travel to states where abortion remains legal.
The change is in line with the Pentagon’s memo, which arrived days after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was sworn into his position.
Under the new policy, active and reserve Marines and sailors who seek non-abortion reproductive services themselves or accompany a spouse or dependent will continue to have their travel expenses reimbursed. Administrative leave will be provided if the procedures are local or in another state, and the authorizing command is responsible for travel funding.
While administrative absences may cover up to 21 days, the granted absence will be limited to the minimum number of days needed for the procedures and travel.
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