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yesterday

New VA Rules Let Staff Deny Care Over Politics and Marital Status

White House officials reject the report as false; VA leaders say the guidelines merely formalize compliance with federal law without restricting veteran care.

Protesters chant in front of a partially-obscured banner reading "BENEFITS NOT BULLSHIT" during an outdoor rally
Department of Veterans Affairs Orlando VA Medical Center
US President Donald Trump attends a working session during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit
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Overview

  • The Department of Veterans Affairs has revised bylaws at some medical centers to allow healthcare workers to decline treatment based on traits not explicitly protected by federal law, such as political party affiliation and marital status.
  • VA Press Secretary Peter Kasperowicz described the changes as a formality intended to align policies with President Trump’s January executive order, assuring that all eligible veterans will continue to receive care.
  • White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly rejected the reporting as a “totally FALSE story,” calling on The Guardian to retract its coverage immediately.
  • Experts including NYU ethicist Dr. Arthur Caplan and veteran advocates have labeled the guidelines “extremely disturbing and unethical,” warning they could act as political purity tests and disproportionately affect female, LGBTQ+ and rural veterans.
  • In response, the American Medical Association passed a resolution for medical staff approval of bylaw amendments, while lawmakers like Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Marcy Kaptur have demanded briefings and transparency on the rule changes.