The Pentagon said last week that the Supreme Court decision overturned Roe v. Wade won't affect service members, spouses and dependents who use military treatment facilities.
The memo, sent by Gil Cisneros, under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, came in response to the Supreme Court decision that overturned the 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed abortion rights under the Constitution.
Cisneros said that facilities on military bases are federal and won't change how they operate. The military will continue to provide abortions in cases of rape, incest or when the mother's life is at risk. The memo states that the Pentagon is not allowed from performing or paying for other types of abortions.
The Defense Department will allow civilians and service members access to counsel if needed, because the states may not impose criminal or civil liability on federal employees who perform their duties in a manner authorized by federal law. Service members will still be granted permission to travel to receive an abortion, and in some cases the U.S. government will pay for the travel.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a statement shortly after the Supreme Court released its decision, saying that the Defense DepartmentDefense Department was looking into its policies to ensure the continuity of reproductive health care.
He said Friday that he was committed to taking care of our people and ensuring the readiness and resilience of our force. The department is looking at this decision closely and evaluating our policies to make sure we continue to provide seamless access to reproductive health care as permitted by federal law.