October 16, 2025

Duckworth Statement on Trump’s So-Called ‘Support’ for IVF

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced new IVF guidance and actions that failed to mandate insurance carriers to cover IVF, failed to enhance Federal subsidies for IVF treatments, failed to expand IVF requirements under the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program and failed to direct the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to eliminate onerous causation requirements that result in servicemembers and Veterans being denied IVF coverage:

“These new actions from the Administration are the bare minimum. They fall far short of Trump’s bold—and now officially broken—campaign promise that if Americans returned him to the White House, ‘Your government will pay for—or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for—all costs associated with IVF treatment.’ While not surprising, it is nonetheless disappointing that the Trump Administration missed a golden opportunity to take concrete, decisive action that would make IVF affordable for thousands of military families, Veterans and civil servants. My heart breaks for the working- and middle-class families that will continue to struggle to afford IVF, even with a welcome discount on drug prices. Of course, Donald Trump is the reason why IVF is at risk to begin with and why women’s health care is being decimated across the country. If the so-called ‘Father of IVF’ wants to do something to support it right now, he would publicly demand that the Speaker of the House send him an NDAA that contains my Senate-passed provision expanding IVF access for our brave servicemembers and military families. That would actually result in more women having access to IVF treatment—and I hope President Trump joins me in pushing House Republicans to act and help more servicemembers start or grow military families.”

Duckworth successfully secured a provision in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the U.S. Senate last week which would require TRICARE coverage of fertility services, including IVF for servicemembers who rely on it to build their families. Duckworth’s provision—which mirrors her ?IVF for Military Families Act that she introduced earlier this year—would ensure servicemembers and their families have access to the same level of IVF coverage that Members of Congress and other federal workers already receive.

Throughout her time in the Senate, Duckworth has made protecting reproductive freedom a top priority in the face of Republicans’ anti-choice crusade. In June, Duckworth introduced her Protect IVF Act along with U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Corey Booker (D-NJ) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that would establish a nationwide right to IVF.

Duckworth has long pushed to pass her Right to IVF Act—which Senate Republicans blocked not once, but twice last year—that would both establish a right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART), expand access for hopeful parents, Veterans and federal employees, as well as lower the costs of IVF for middle class families across the country. Last year’s September vote marked the fourth time Senate Republicans blocked Duckworth-led legislation that would protect access to IVF nationwide—including Duckworth’s Access to Family Building Act, which builds on previous legislation she introduced in 2022.

Duckworth was the first Senator to give birth while serving in office and had both of her children with the help of IVF. In 2018, she advocated for the Senate to change its rules so she could bring her infant onto the Senate floor.

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