A group of transgender veterans filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to force the Department of Veteran Affairs to begin providing and paying for gender-affirming surgeries.
A spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs said it does not comment on ongoing litigation.
But he pointed to 2021 statements from Veteran Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, who said the VA was beginning a years long rulemaking process that would result in providing gender-affirming surgeries.
McDonough said the VA would use the time to “develop capacity to meet the surgical needs” of transgender veterans.
Natalie Kastner, a 39-year-old disabled veteran from Texas, said she went to the VA in 2022 seeking surgery.
Persons:
Rebekka Eshler, Denis McDonough, McDonough, “, ” Eshler, Natalie Kastner, ”
Organizations:
Department of Veteran Affairs, Transgender American Veterans Association, United States, Appeals, Federal Circuit, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veteran
Locations:
Washington, Texas