Overview

• The Pentagon's policy to cover travel expenses for service members seeking non-covered reproductive health care, including abortions, was used 12 times between June and December 2023.
• The policy, responding to state-level abortion restrictions, allows service members and dependents to travel for care not available near their duty station, costing roughly $45,000.
• Criticism from pro-life Republicans, including Sen. Tommy Tuberville's months-long hold on military promotions, highlighted the policy's contentious nature.
• The policy also grants an administrative absence for up to 21 days for receiving such health care, without charging leave.
• The Department of Defense does not track the specific types of procedures sought due to privacy concerns, and the policy does not cover the cost of the procedures themselves.