On Jan. 29, the Pentagon's Defense Travel Management Office announced it rescinded a Biden administration policy that reimbursed service members and dependents for travel to states where abortion and other reproductive health procedures are legal.
As the news broke out, several Republican leaders took on their social media accounts to celebrate the decision.
Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, one of the most critical voices of the policy, released a statement on his X social media account to praise the decision, claiming the Biden administration treated taxpayers "like their own personal Piggy bank that they could use to bankroll their woke agenda."
President Trump and Secretary Hegseth affirmed today what I’ve been fighting for since I got to Washington: ZERO taxpayer dollars should go towards abortions.
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) January 31, 2025
My full statement below: pic.twitter.com/s3UymYcqQz
Tuberville had been protesting the policy for years, holding up more than 400 military promotions in the process.
This latest move by the Trump administration reversed a 2023 policy enacted under then-Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin after the repeal of Roe v Wade. It provided paid leave and travel reimbursement for troops and their families who had to cross state lines because they were stationed in a state where abortion —and other reproductive care— not offered by the military was outlawed or unavailable.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also used his X account to thank Tuberville for his efforts.
Thank you for your leadership, Coach. https://t.co/hoEMpsVd0j
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 31, 2025
The Pentagon's decision was quickly criticized by Democratic lawmakers, including New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who led a group of 18 Democratic and independent senators to halt the move.
"This decision strips away service members' ability to access the reproductive care they need, which is nothing short of abhorrent," Shaheen said in a statement.
Lawmakers argue that U.S. service members have no control over where they are stationed and that taking away the travel policy "does nothing to advance military readiness."
New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill also released a statement firing back ad the decision taken by Hegseth and the Department of Defense, saying servicewomen "shouldn't have to risk their lives while stationed in a state with severe abortion bans," such as Texas or Florida.
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