A new memorandum issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) calls for changes to care provided to LGBTQ+ military veterans, including ceasing all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and disbanding “gender ideology” initiatives.
Veterans Health Administration Under Secretary for Health John Bartrum signed the June 12 memo, originally reported by The Advocate and shared by the VA with Military.com, titled, “Reiterating Executive Order Compliance Responsibilities.” The memo calls for the VA to continue to establish mechanisms to properly serve the veteran population and prohibit government resources from “any form of prioritization that diverts from merit-based, mission-focused operations.”
The memo was addressed to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) senior leaders, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) directors, and medical directors who must confirm in writing within 14 days of the memo’s issuance that all non-compliant activities are ceased and that all employees have been advised of the new requirements.
It specifically references two of President Donald Trump’s executive orders: 14151, titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” and 14168, “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” as proxy for the new VA guidelines.
EO 14151 directs federal agencies to end spending on DEI-related mandates, policies, programs and activities. EO 14168 calls on the federal government to only recognize two sexes, male and female.
“To ensure maximum adherence to EOs 14151 and 14168, VHA must eliminate all DEI/DEIA programs, gender-identity based and gender-ideology based initiatives, and any activities, internal or external, that promote gender identity or gender ideology. All employees must align operations and communications appropriately,” the memo states.
Effective immediately, per the memo, VHA funds, time, facilities or resources may not be used for meetings, training, working groups, promotional interests, events or anything promoting gender identity or ideology. Facilities must also ensure that local policies, SharePoint sites, communications, websites and training materials comply with the aforementioned EOs.
Also, LGBTQ+ veteran care coordinators are being redesignated as care coordinators “dedicated to facilitating VA health care and benefits for all veterans, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex or education.” Updated role descriptions are supposed to be made within 30 days from the issuing of the memo.
Military.com asked the VA about the reasoning, timing and intentions behind the memorandum, as well as how it would address concerns from LGBTQ+ service members past and present that have served the country and may feel singled out by the new guidance. No response was received.
Questions About LGBTQ+ Impact
The new memorandum has resulted in questions about how LGBTQ+ service members may be impacted moving forward, with some believing the ramifications will be negative.
“This new order would require the VA to terminate outreach and case management programs that have been lifelines for many gay and transgender vets,” Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, told Military.com. “This new policy is yet another slap in the face to individuals who have earned our nation’s gratitude for their service.”
It is bad medicine and a bad policy, and it sends a clear message to our nation’s vets: you don’t matter.
There are also concerns about whether programs like PRIDE in All Who Served and CBT-PRISM will remain viable, with medical professionals at U.S.-based VA hospitals telling The Advocate: “People are worried this will mean loss of programming and services that are uniquely designed for LGBTQ+ veterans.”
PRIDE in All Who Served is a VA-developed, 10-week health education and support program that has led to LGBTQ+ veterans experiencing less depression, anxiety, suicide risk, and identity-related stigma, in addition to increased social connectedness.
CBT-PRISM is a cognitive behavioral therapy program that has for years aimed to lessen burdens on LGBTQ+ veterans suffering from chronic pain, PTSD and other health conditions with intensive outpatient treatment approaches. It has also incorporated newer disciplines, including functional medicine and lifestyle medicine. Past efforts have been made to expand the program throughout the Veterans Health Administration.
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