Dem Women’s Caucus Leadership Condemns House Republicans’ Attacks on Abortion Access in FY25 NDAA

Washington, D.C. – Today, Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Chair Lois Frankel (FL-22), Vice Chairs Nikema Williams (GA-5) and Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), and Policy Co-Chairs Kathy Manning (NC-06) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) announced their formal opposition to extreme House Republicans’ FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) following the adoption of a cruel amendment that would end a Department of Defense (DoD) policy that allows service members and their dependents to be reimbursed for travel expenses and take administrative leave if they have to travel to get the reproductive care they need.

There are over 150 military bases located in states with abortion bans or restrictions. In 2022 it was estimated that over 40% of women service members, about 80,000 servicewomen, are impacted with that number growing as more states limit abortion access.

Earlier this week, DWC leaders sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson making clear they strongly oppose any efforts to attack reproductive health care in the NDAA—and the inclusion of any such provision would jeopardize final passage of the bill. The Democratic Women’s Caucus opposed the NDAA last year following similar attacks on abortion access.

“The NDAA is a historically bipartisan bill dedicated to strengthening our national security and protecting our service members, but extreme House Republicans have turned it into yet another way to attack reproductive freedom. Service women stand up for our freedom, now we must stand for theirs,” said DWC Chair Lois Frankel.

“We oppose the Republican version of this bill; it’s time for Republicans to put the health and futures of our service members over these political games.” continued Chair Frankel.

The bill also contains provisions that attack the LGBTQ+ community and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

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