Veterans Affairs Ends Gender-Affirming Medical Care for Transgender Veterans

The decision, tied to a Trump executive order, halts all gender-affirming treatments except for those already in progress, redirecting funds to other veteran care initiatives.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced the immediate cessation of gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender veterans, citing a January executive order by President Trump.
The policy halts access to services such as hormone therapy, speech therapy, and prosthetics for gender dysphoria, except for veterans who began treatment before discharge.
VA Secretary Doug Collins stated that the decision reflects the administration's stance on gender as biologically fixed and reallocates savings to care for severely injured veterans.
Advocacy groups and medical experts warn that the policy could worsen mental health outcomes for transgender veterans, who already face higher rates of mental health challenges and suicide.
The move follows the rescission of a prior directive that provided protections and healthcare guidance for transgender veterans, formalizing the rollback of those services.