VA Redesignates LGBTQ+ Care Coordinators and Limits Gender-Related Services
The Department of Veterans Affairs is restricting services for LGBTQ+ veterans and redesignating their dedicated care coordinators, citing compliance with White House executive orders. The move has drawn criticism from Rep. Mark Takano and the AFGE union, who warn it will degrade care for the estimated one million LGBTQ+ veterans, a group already facing higher health and suicide risks.
VA memo restricting services
▪The memo, signed by VHA Under Secretary John Bartrum, prohibits using VA resources for "any activities promoting gender-ideology or gender-identity."
▪The Department of Veterans Affairs issued a memo on June 12 titled “Reiterating Executive Order Compliance Responsibilities.”
▪Veterans Health Administration officials were given 14 days to confirm in writing that noncompliant activities have ceased.
▪The policy change is based on executive orders signed by President Donald Trump that recognize only male and female as sexes and terminate DEI programs.
Care coordinator redesignation
▪The VA is redesignating its "LGBTQ+ care coordinators" as "care coordinators" for all veterans.
▪Prior to the change, every VA health care system had a dedicated LGBTQ+ care coordinator to act as a care advocate.
▪VA facilities have 30 days to update the job descriptions for the newly redesignated care coordinator roles.
Impact on transgender veterans
▪The March 2025 policy exempted veterans already receiving such care from the VA or from the military upon their separation.
▪In March 2025, the VA announced it would phase out medical treatments for transgender veterans to comply with a presidential directive.
Employee departures over policy
▪Renae DeLucia, a former LGBTQ+ care coordinator in Virginia, quit her job in May 2026, citing the VA's restrictive directives.
▪DeLucia said a lack of clear guidance on implementing past memos allowed "leaders with personal biases to do whatever they wanted."
LGBTQ+ veteran health risks
▪An estimated one million U.S. veterans identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender.
▪The VA's website states that due to stigma and discrimination, LGBTQ+ veterans face higher rates of some health conditions and a greater risk of suicide.
▪A current VA employee stated that prior administration orders have already led to adverse mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ veterans.
Congressional response to changes
▪The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union stated the directive is "designed to suppress the rights of veterans within the LGBTQ+ community."
▪Rep. Mark Takano, ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said the changes "will degrade care for LGBTQ+ veterans."
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