Press Release National
Pete Hegseth
U.S. Secretary of Defense
A Fox News media personality and alleged sexual predator who lies about abortion on TV oversees the health and safety of millions of military service members, civilian personnel, and dependents. Youāll be among the first to know how you can take action when you sign up for text and email alerts from us.
All Cabinet Picks > Pete Hegseth
TL;DR (too long, didn’t read) summary:
Hegsethās record strongly suggests that heāll block service members and their families from accessing critical reproductive health care, including abortion.
Furthermore, Hegsethās alarming history with alleged sexual assault is particularly awful and poses threats especially to women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and people of color, given the militaryās sexual assault epidemic that the Department of Defense has only recently started to address.
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Background on this Role and Reproductive Freedom
Under the Biden administration, the Department of Defense expanded reproductive freedom in the military, but that could go away under Hegsethās leadership.
Current policies that may be under threat include copay benefits for certain birth control services, expanded walk-in birth control care services at military hospitals and clinics, and other reproductive freedom policies that ease travel burdens for servicemembers and dependents who have to travel out of state for reproductive health care, including abortion.
The Threat to Reproductive Freedom
- Hegseth openly opposes the policy that helps troops travel for abortion care, and as Secretary, he could scrap it completely. Service members already struggle to get the care they need, and Hegsethās plans would only make it harder for them to access abortion care.
- We anticipate that with Hegseth at the helm of the Department of Defense, any progress towards justice for survivors would be at risk, and a pervasive culture of fear, sexism, and discrimination in the military made worse, posing a clear threat to women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and people of color.
Pete Hegseth's Record on Reproductive Freedom
- Pete Hegseth has consistently pushed anti-abortion views, stating that reproductive justice is āabsolutely and utterly meaningless.ā
- Hegseth has publicly opposed the Pentagonās current reproductive health care travel policy, which allows service members stationed in states with applicable bans to access abortion and assisted reproductive technology, like IVF, in states where such care is legal.
- Hegseth has spoken at events organized by anti-abortion groups and praised the Supreme Courtās decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womenās Health Organization
- On different occasions, Hegseth has spread disinformation and used incendiary terms to describe abortion care, and suggests that Democrats make up āimaginary scenariosā to keep supporters āobsessedā with abortion even though we know that abortion bans are causing egregious harm.
- Hegseth has ties to Project 2025. The Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts pledged $1 million to support his nomination.
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Press Release National