VA Ends Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Veterans, Redirects Funds

The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced it will phase out gender-affirming treatments, citing compliance with President Trump's executive order defining sex as strictly male or female.

The VA will no longer offer hormone therapy or gender-affirming prosthetics to new transgender patients, though veterans already receiving such care will continue to be treated.
The 2018 directive requiring staff to use veterans' chosen names and pronouns and allowing facility access based on gender identity has been rescinded.
Funds previously allocated for gender-affirming care will be redirected to support severely injured veterans, such as those who are paralyzed or amputees.
The policy change aligns with President Trump's executive order mandating federal agencies to recognize only male and female sexes and prohibiting funding for gender-affirming treatments.
Advocacy groups and medical organizations have criticized the decision, warning of potential harm to the mental and physical health of transgender veterans.