Per an executive order from President Donald Trump, the Department of Veterans Affairs has introduced revised guidelines for VA hospitals nationwide, removing explicit protections that previously barred medical staff from discriminating against patients based on political beliefs or marital status—meaning these facilities can now discriminate against Democrats or unmarried veterans.
While federal law still mandates that veterans receive care regardless of race, color, religion, or sex, the new guidelines omit previous language that protected against discrimination based on political affiliation and marital status, reported The Guardian.
The change has raised concerns that some VA workers might now refuse care to patients based on characteristics not explicitly covered under federal protections.
The revisions follow a January executive order from Trump targeting what he described as “gender ideology.” In response, references to “gender identity,” “politics,” “marital status,” and “national origin” were removed from internal VA bylaws.
Similarly, updated staffing guidelines no longer prohibit discrimination against job applicants based on national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, union membership, or political party affiliation.
VA employees said the new rules were implemented without input from the system’s medical staff—an apparent violation of standards set by the nonprofit body that accredits U.S. hospitals. Veterans said the policy shift is likely to disproportionately affect women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those in rural areas, where access to alternative providers is already limited.
In a statement to The Guardian, VA press secretary Peter Kasperowicz did not dispute that the new guidelines could allow doctors to refuse treatment based on a patient’s beliefs, or that hospitals might dismiss physicians over their marital status or political affiliation.
He said "All eligible veterans will always be welcome at VA and will always receive the benefits and services they’ve earned under the law," describing the changes as a “formality"—one that already applies to psychologists, dentists, chiropractors, certified nurse practitioners, optometrists, podiatrists, licensed clinical social workers, and speech therapists.
In a statement, the progressive advocacy organization VoteVets condemned the "unethical" move:
"Trump’s VA just allowed doctors to deny care to Democrats, unmarried Veterans, among other groups."
"This isn’t healthcare. It’s political purity tests for people who risked their lives for this country."
"It’s unethical, authoritarian, and every one of us should be outraged."
You can see the organization's post below.
Many have also criticized Trump in response.
The policy change is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to exert greater political control over science and medicine.
That effort has included funding cuts and new restrictions at agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Just last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed the entire federal advisory panel on vaccines.
Kennedy framed his decision as an effort to restore public trust and eliminate conflicts of interest. However, three health policy experts told NBC News that the incoming appointees appear to have fewer credentials and a greater alignment with anti-vaccine sentiments than the outgoing members.
The VA has also come under scrutiny for a separate directive barring agency researchers from publishing in scientific journals without prior approval from political appointees—raising alarms about censorship and the politicization of medical research.
Backed by nearly $1 billion in annual congressional funding, VA scientists conduct research at 102 sites nationwide, overseeing more than 7,300 active projects. In the past year alone, they published over 10,000 studies in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Advocates say these changes will cause more veterans to suffer in the long run.
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