Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday that the Pentagon is working to ensure that members of the military, their families and civilians have access to “reproductive health care” following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Rowe against Wade.
Why it matters: The Ministry of Defense does not currently have a policy for the accommodation of servicemen or employees seeking abortion, but are located in a country that has banned abortions, Politico reports.
- Currently, federal law allows military medical facilities to perform abortions only in cases of rape, incest, or if a woman’s life is in danger, while the military health program has the right to cover abortions in private facilities only for the same reasons.
What they say: “Nothing is more important to me or to this department than the health and well-being of our employees, the civilian workforce and the families of DOD,” Austin said in a statement on Friday.
- “I am committed to caring for our people and ensuring the readiness and resilience of our forces. The Ministry is closely examining this decision and evaluating our policies to ensure that we continue to provide seamless access to reproductive health care as permitted by federal law, “he added.
The big picture: The court ruling could further strain military recruitment efforts – already hampered by low employment and other factors – as potential recruits may be afraid to be housed in states that have banned abortions, according to Bloomberg.
- Women make up about 20 percent of the 1.3 million active-duty servicemen, and 95 percent of them are of reproductive age, according to Stars and Stripes, citing statistics from the department.
Go deeper … DHS note: Violent extremism “probably” after Rowe v. Wade
Add Comment