Veterans Affairs Ends Distribution Of Taxpayer-Funded Chemical Castration Drugs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to “phase out” the distribution of chemical castration drugs to trans-identifying veterans, the agency announced on Monday.
“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 said in a statement.
According to an agency press release, VA will no longer offer so-called “cross-sex hormone therapy” to retired service members “who have a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria.” Eligible members who “are already receiving such care from VA” or “were receiving such care from the military as part of and upon their separation from military service and they are eligible for VA health care” are exempt from the directive.
VA disclosed that veterans who fail to meet such criteria “are not eligible for cross-sex hormone therapy through VA health care,” and that the agency “will not provide any other medical or surgical therapy for gender dysphoria to any patients in any circumstance.” “Any and all savings” garnered from the VA’s cessation of the aforementioned services will be “redirected” toward “severely injured VA beneficiaries.”
“VA has not kept consistent and reliable records regarding the total number of Veterans who endured these procedures, the total amount of money spent on them or the total number of employees involved,” the department said. “Veterans Health Administration estimates indicate that less than one tenth of one percent of the 9.1 million Veterans enrolled in VA health care are trans-identified.” (Read more from “Veterans Affairs Ends Distribution Of Taxpayer-Funded Chemical Castration Drugs” HERE)
