Facilities across the United States have been ordered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to remove gender identity-based initiatives and strip LGBTQ+ classifications from medical coordinators who help LGBTQ+ veterans access healthcare.
The 12 June directive, seen by The Advocate and signed by Veterans Health Administration Under Secretary for Health John J. Bartrum, forms part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to remove references to LGBTQ+ and transgender identities from federal programmes.
The move has raised concern among VA staff about the future of services specifically designed to support LGBTQ+ veterans.
According to medical professionals who reviewed the memo, employees are worried the changes could jeopardise programmes such as PRIDE in All Who Served and CBT-PRISM.
PRIDE in All Who Served is a 10-week VA support and education programme that has been linked to improved mental health, reduced suicide risk and increased engagement in care among LGBTQ+ veterans.
The directive requires VA facilities to comply with executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as well as federal recognition of transgender people.
Under the new guidance, LGBTQ+ veteran care coordinators will now simply be called “care coordinators”.
Facilities have also been instructed to review websites, policies, training materials, communications and events for compliance.
The directive states that federal resources cannot be used for activities that promote what the administration describes as “gender ideology”.
The VA says all veterans will continue to receive care, and that programmes mandated by Congress will remain unchanged.
However, the latest directive follows other policy changes affecting LGBTQ+ veterans, including the 2025 cancellation of guidance for the care of transgender and intersex veterans, as well as restrictions on referrals for gender-affirming care.
It is not yet clear whether the administration will retain the functions of LGBTQ+ veteran care coordinators under a new title, or whether the change is part of a wider effort to eliminate the programme.
For LGBTQ+ veterans and the healthcare professionals who support them, the uncertainty has sparked concern that removing identity-specific language could also weaken access, trust and visibility within the VA system.
