The Department of Defense released plans Thursday to provide travel expenses for service members seeking an abortion. Service members will have 5 months, or 20 weeks into their pregnancy to even begin the process of planning their abortion and requesting covered expenses. The new guidelines go into effect within the next 30 days.
The Department of Defense will be joining the likes of Dicks Sporting Goods, Amazon, Bank of America, Bumble, BuzzFeed, Cigna, Citigroup, CNN, Comcast, Discord, Rivian, Bumble, Bloomberg L.P., Ralph Lauren, Sephora, as well as Walmart among multiple others who provide travel expenses for workers seeking abortions. These controversial decisions have led to a backlash from consumers, with many thinking that the choice isn’t a friendly choice for workers, but rather a strategic way to incentivize abortions as a way to avoid maternity leave for female workers.
The memorandum released by the Department of Defense:
“…the DOD health care provider will place the Service member considering pregnancy termination in a medical temporary nondeployable status without reference to the Service member’s pregnancy status, until appropriate medical care and the necessary recovery period are complete.”
The memorandum also instates that this will also include no loss of pay for time off following the decision to have an abortion.
A senior defense official spoke more on the controversial matter, telling Military Times on Thursday:
“Service members and families are required to travel and move to meet the needs of the nation. And while they certainly have a voice in the process of where they’re assigned, ultimately, decisions are made in the best interest of the department’s mission requirements,”
“And we strongly believe that these moves should not impact their access to essential health care. These policies that we’re releasing today will help ensure long-term that we’re able to recruit, retain and maintain the readiness of a highly qualified force.”
While previous occurrences of expenses being covered for abortions from the Department of Defense were other for instances of rape or the possibility of health issues for the mother, the new guidelines intend on covering any intended abortions.
Women who can become pregnant shouldn’t serve in the military. How can a pregnant woman be battle-ready? How can a person in an essential military position get time off for an elective procedure?