Pentagon announced expected assistance for military members seeking out-of-state abortion

The Pentagon will cover some travel and transportation expenses for U.S. service members who must cross state lines for a legal abortion.

The benefit guidelines were set forth Thursday in a memo from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, following reports about such likely changes since the Supreme Court in June overturned Roe v. Wade, which provided the constitutional right to abortion for roughly 40 years.

Austin says in the memo that limits on access to reproductive health care will interfere with the military’s ability "to recruit, retain and maintain ... readiness."