National Security Council's Kirby says military's abortion policy 'sacred obligation' to troops

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says the Defense Department's abortion-related cost coverage for troops is "critical to military readiness." 

Kirby made the comment Monday in apparent response to Alabama GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville holding up Senate confirmations for some of President Biden's military appointees over the department giving service members and their families travel expenses for abortions or reproductive care, if such services are limited or banned in the state in which they are stationed. 

Under the Hyde Amendment, federal funds are prohibited from being used for abortions. The Pentagon, Sen. Tuberville argues, effectively circumvented this law by paying for abortion travel, but not the procedure itself. This, he suggests, is still a violation of the law in actuality.

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