Senator Tammy Duckworth is urging President-elect Donald Trump to back her proposal to expand in vitro fertilization (IVF) coverage for military personnel, calling on him to make good on a campaign pledge before he takes office.
In a letter obtained by POLITICO, Duckworth, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, appealed to Trump to support provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would broaden TRICARE’s fertility services. These provisions aim to bring military families’ IVF coverage in line with what federal employees and members of Congress receive.
Duckworth pointed to Trump’s 2024 campaign promise to ensure IVF costs would be covered by insurance or government programs. “He made a promise,” she emphasized in an interview, adding, “I was super excited when he made that campaign promise.”
Her appeal comes as Congress works to finalize the nearly $900 billion defense budget. Both the House and Senate versions of the NDAA already include bipartisan provisions for expanded fertility services. However, Duckworth expressed concern that some Republican lawmakers might try to strip the language from the final bill.
In her letter, Duckworth urged Trump to intervene, warning that opposition from conservative Republicans could undermine his ability to fulfill campaign commitments. “As the leader of the Republican Party, it would be appropriate for you to exercise your influence to prevent Congressional Republicans from undermining your ability to govern by your own ‘promises made, promises kept’ motto,” she wrote.
Access to IVF became a polarizing topic during the 2024 election cycle following an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that declared frozen embryos should be treated as people. While Democrats criticized the ruling, Trump embraced the issue, pledging to ensure widespread access to IVF.
Despite bipartisan support, opposition from some conservative Republicans poses a challenge. Representatives Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) and Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) have publicly criticized the proposed expansion, arguing IVF treatments destroy embryos and “innocent human life.” Their influence over the NDAA’s final language, however, may be limited given the need for broad bipartisan agreement.
Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) led efforts to include IVF coverage in the House-passed version of the bill, bolstering its chances in the upcoming compromise negotiations.
Congressional leaders aim to finalize the NDAA this week to meet the year-end deadline, with the legislation setting critical Pentagon policies and funding levels. Trump’s transition team has not yet responded to Duckworth’s appeal.
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