The Coast Guard policy was created to conform with a directive from President Biden's Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III. In October 2022, the Secretary of Defense released a memo announcing that the military will pay abortion travel expenses. The policies are designed to undermine pro-life laws that would otherwise protect the unborn children of servicemembers stationed in pro-life states.
A Coast Guard bulletin on March 1 announced the new policy. It includes administrative absence and convalescent leave for abortions. In addition to paying travel expenses, the policy prevents loss of pay or loss of earned leave.
Fertility treatments such as IVF are also covered by the new policy. IVF is known to destroy or indefinitely freeze fertilized embryos. These embryos are unique, innocent human beings with a right to life.
