This is confusing.
The VHA Directive 1341 was already rescinded. It did leave in place hormone treatment and mental health services, provided we were already receiving that care.
https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=12188 🔗Under that order, they removed all signs, pins, and brochures concerning anything LGBTQ+, reassigned all the LGBTQ+ Care Coordinators to other positions, and enacted "Snitch On Your Coworker" Policies. My therapist has told me that I cannot get any letters recommending surgery and that they will not document anything gender-related in my medical records. Instead, I am being seen for PTSD only, while we proudly display our Pride Flag pins privately in her office.
This sounds like they are already removing ALL treatments, but this is not the case.
Other sources state that this is basically the same policy, just more strictly enforced:
Key Impacts of the Directive
Redesignation of Personnel: Specialized "LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinators" are stripped of the LGBTQ+ designation. They are rebranded simply as "Care Coordinators," tasked with assisting all veterans. Facilities have 30 days to rewrite these role descriptions.
Removal of Messaging: All VA medical centers and offices must scrub websites, SharePoint sites, local policies, forms, and internal or external training materials of references to LGBTQ+ and transgender identities.
Resource Restrictions: The memo explicitly bans the use of government resources for class-specific expenditures, targeted training, meetings, or promotional activities.
Uniform Standards: Local dress codes and attire policies at VHA facilities must be updated to comply strictly with the new Executive Orders.
-------------
Except that these Executive Orders are not new. The VA moves at the speed of government. There have been many allies embedded within the VA Healthcare Networks, so this appears to be a crackdown on them.
Remember how your government treats its veterans when you go to cast your ballot.
