Dept. of Veteran Affairs will end gender-altering treatments, use savings to help amputees, paralyzed veterans

Veterans who wish to undergo gender-transitioning treatments should “do so on their own dime,” Veteran Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins said on Monday.

The department announced an end to medical treatments for gender dysphoria, such as cross-sex hormone therapy, voice training, and “so-called gender-affirming prosthetics” such as chest binders or artificial breasts.

“I mean no disrespect to anyone, but VA should not be focused on helping veterans attempt to change their sex. The vast majority of veterans and Americans agree, and that is why this is the right decision,” Collins said of the decision, noting that transgender veterans would still be welcomed at the VA for other “benefits and services” they’ve earned.

The VA has never offered surgical intervention for transgender veterans – despite promises from the Biden administration that it would – but it had promoted a slew of other transgender related procedures. These services included hormone therapy, voice counseling, family planning and “lactation support,” and hair removal.  

Before Monday’s announcement, the agency also provided letters of support for veterans who wished to pay for the surgeries with private insurance or out-of-pocket.  

“Effective immediately, VA will not offer cross-sex hormone therapy to Veterans who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria,” the VA noted, with exceptions available for veterans already receiving care. “VA will not provide any other medical or surgical therapy for gender dysphoria to any patients in any circumstance.” 

The VA also said its facilities have ensured that any “intimate spaces” such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and patient rooms are clearly designated as male or female, or unisex for a single-person space. 

The agency noted that it has not kept reliable records about the number of veterans who have undergone gender transition procedures or the funds spent on them, but it estimates that less than one-tenth of 1% of the 9.1 million veterans enrolled in VA benefits identify as transgender.  

The new Trump administration policy has already faced criticism from LGBT advocates who said the VA was turning its back on transgender veterans.  

By putting a stop to gender transitioning procedures, the VA said it was complying with President Donald Trump’s recent executive order which stated that the official policy of the United States is “to recognize two sexes, male and female” and that the sexes are “not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”  

All savings from stopping the gender dysphoria treatments will be directed towards “severely injured” VA beneficiaries, the announcement noted, including amputees and paralyzed veterans.