Published Jun 16, 2026, 11:06 AM EDT
A new memo calls for changes to be made within a 14-day period of its issuance.
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Published Jun 16, 2026, 11:06 AM EDT
A new memorandum issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) calls for changes to care provided to LGBTQ+ military veterans, including ceasing all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and disbanding "gender ideology" initiatives. Veterans Health Administration Under Secretary for Health John Bartrum signed the June 12 memo, originally reported by The Advocate and shared by the VA with Military.com, titled, "Reiterating Executive Order Compliance Responsibilities." The memo calls for the VA to continue to establish mechanisms to properly serve the veteran population and prohibit government resources from "any form of prioritization that diverts from merit-based, mission-focused operations." The memo was addressed to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) senior leaders, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) directors, and medical directors who must confirm in writing within 14 days of the memo's issuance that all non-compliant activities are ceased and that all employees have been advised of the new requirements. It specifically references two of President Donald Trump's executive orders: 14151, titled "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing," and 14168, "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," as proxy for the new VA guidelines.
