WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Trump Administration quietly implemented a policy banning the VA from providing abortion care to Veterans and their families—including in cases of rape, incest or to protect the health of the mother—despite widespread opposition from advocates and the Veteran community:

Get The Latest News!

Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.

Article continues after sponsor message

“Our Veterans risked their lives to safeguard our freedoms. And yet a man who has never served a day in his life is taking away their own freedom to choose what's best for their health.

“In cases of rape, incest or when the health of the mother is at risk, Trump is denying our heroes the care they’ve earned through their service—and it’ll be those living in states with extreme abortion bans who will suffer the most.

“Trump implemented this extreme policy during the holiday season, quietly and over the objections of Veterans, thinking we wouldn’t notice. Well, we did. And I will keep fighting to give Veterans and all Americans the health care and reproductive freedom they deserve.”

Prefer RiverBender on Google
Copyright 2026 Riverbender.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

 

More like this:

Duckworth Secures VA Commitment to Improve Maternal Health Care for Veterans
May 2, 2026
Duckworth Accuses VA Secretary Collins of Pushing Privatization in Proposed Budget
May 23, 2026
Congress Approves $1.6 Billion for St. Louis VA Hospital Modernization, Bost Says
May 21, 2026
Duckworth, Sanders, Fetterman Introduce Legislation to Establish Guardianship Bill of Rights to Protect Veterans and Americans with Disabilities
Apr 3, 2026
After Personally Calling DHS Secretary Mullen, Duckworth Announces Military Spouse Deisy Rivera Ortega Has Been Released From ICE Detention
May 18, 2026