Southern Illinois News

Mike Bost, who represents Illinois' 12th Congressional District, said that President Trump is "phasing out taxpayer-funded transgender treatments at the Department of Veterans Affairs," adding that the country is fortunate to have a president who isn't afraid to "restore common sense" at the VA. He made this statement in a March 17 Facebook post.

"President Trump is phasing out taxpayer-funded transgender treatments at the Department of Veterans Affairs," said Bost, U.S. Representative, according to Facebook. "The VA shouldn't be a battlefield in the Left's war on truth. There are two God-given genders with unique needs and differences that don't disappear or reverse at the whim of woke bureaucrats. We are fortunate to have a president like Donald Trump who isn't afraid to restore common sense at the VA and refocus the agency 100% on serving the needs of America's veterans."

On March 17, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it is phasing out medical treatments for gender dysphoria. Effective immediately, veterans diagnosed with or exhibiting symptoms of gender dysphoria, and those receiving such care from the military as part of their separation, may receive cross-sex hormone therapy if they are eligible for VA healthcare. The department has provided gender dysphoria treatment for more than a decade but has never offered sex-change surgeries. According to a VA news release, the department had previously offered services like cross-sex hormone therapy, voice and communication training, and gender-affirming prosthetics.

Screenshot of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost's March 17 Facebook post | U.S. Rep. Mike Bost's Facebook page

The move follows an executive order from President Trump, signed on January 20, titled Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government. The order defines male and female as the only genders, with males described as "a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the small reproductive cell," and females as "a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell."

Before this announcement on restrictions to cross-sex hormone therapy, according to NBC News, the VA rescinded a 2018 directive that required treating trans veterans with respect and dignity and covering mental health care, hormone therapy, pre-surgery evaluation, and post-surgery care as medically necessary. Healthcare providers were also required to address veterans by their preferred name and pronouns. The report notes that funding saved by halting gender dysphoria treatments will be redirected to help paralyzed veterans regain independence.

Bost has represented Illinois’ 12th District since January 6, 2015. A lifelong Murphysboro resident, he has extensive experience in state politics, having served as the House Republican Caucus Chair in the Illinois State House of Representatives for two decades. He is also a former U.S. Marine Corps member who served from 1979-1982. Before entering full-time politics, Bost worked for 24 years at Bost Trucking Service and later joined the Murphysboro Fire Department after completing training at the University of Illinois’ Certified Firefighter II Academy in 1993.