The Department of Veterans Affairs is gender-affirming medical treatments for veterans, including for patients newly diagnosed with gender dysphoria, the V.A. announced on Monday.
The V.A. will continue hormone treatment for veterans who currently receive it or were receiving it when they separated from the military.
The rationale is that abrupt cessation can be harmful to patients’ health. The policy change was made to comply with an executive order by President Trump, titled “ ,” the V.A.
said in a news release. That order states that the United States recognizes only two sexes, male and female, which “are not changeable.” “I mean no disrespect to anyone, but V.
A. should not be focused on helping veterans attempt to change their sex,” said Doug Collins, the V.A.
secretary. Transgender veterans will continue to be welcome at the V.A.
, he added, “but if veterans want to attempt to change their sex, they can do so on their own dime.” The V.A.
has been providing treatment for gender transition to veterans since 2011. It has never provided surgeries, but it has . In addition to hormone therapy, these have included mental health care, preoperative evaluations and letters supporting the need for procedures, as well as postoperative and long-term care.
Fertility services, prosthetic devices like wigs, and voice coaching were also offered. Those services had been authorized under a V.A.
directive on guiding health care for transgender and intersex veterans know as .