After more than a decade of providing treatment for gender dysphoria, officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced in March they will no longer be offering those treatments.
The phasing out of the treatment comes in response, VA officials noted in a statement, to President Trump’s “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” Executive Order, which states “it is the policy of the United States to recognize 2 sexes, male and female.”1
The statement noted that as of March 17, 2025, the 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, unless:
- Such veterans are already receiving such care from VA; or
- Such veterans were receiving such care from the military as part of and upon their separation from military service and they are eligible for VA healthcare.”
Veterans who do not meet the criteria above are not eligible for cross-sex hormone therapy through VA healthcare. The VA will not provide any other medical or surgical therapy for gender dysphoria to any patients in any circumstance.
Eligible veterans diagnosed with gender dysphoria or identifying as trans will continue to receive VA healthcare. The announcement does not affect VA medical care for eligible veterans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer, according to the statement.
Although the VA has never offered sex-change surgeries, the department has been providing treatment for gender dysphoria for more than a decade. Veterans Health Administration estimates indicate that less than one-tenth of 1% of the 9.1 million veterans enrolled in VA healthcare are trans-identified.
“All eligible veterans—including trans-identified veterans—will always be welcome at VA and will always receive the benefits and services they’ve earned under the law. But if veterans want to attempt to change their sex, they can do so on their own dime,” VA Secretary Doug Collins stated in a press release.
Reference
- Veterans Affairs. VA to phase out treatment for gender dysphoria [press release]. March 17, 2025. Accessed April 4, 2025. https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-to-phase-out-treatment-for-gender-dysphoria/