The Department of Veterans Affairs is eliminating gender-identity initiatives across its healthcare system and redesignating LGBTQ+ veteran care coordinators as general care coordinators under a new directive intended to comply with President Donald Trump's executive orders on diversity programs and gender policy.

In a June 12 memorandum sent to senior Veterans Health Administration leaders, Veterans Integrated Service Network directors, and VA medical center directors, Undersecretary for Health John J. Bartrum ordered the agency to align with Trump's executive orders "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing" and "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government."

"VHA must eliminate all DEI/DEIA programs, gender-identity based and gender-ideology based initiatives, and any activities, internal or external, that promote gender identity or gender ideology," Bartrum wrote.

The memo, reported by Military Times, states that VA funds, facilities, official time, and other resources cannot be used for "meetings, training, working groups, promotional materials, events, or any activities promoting gender-ideology or gender-identity."

It also directs facilities to review policies, websites, communications and training materials for compliance.

Under the directive, LGBTQ+ veteran care coordinators will be redesignated as care coordinators, "dedicated to facilitating VA healthcare and benefits for all Veterans, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, or sexual orientation."

Updated role descriptions must be completed within 30 days.

According to the VA, the coordinators currently help create welcoming environments for LGBTQ+ veterans, educate staff, and connect veterans with services.

Bartrum wrote that the changes are intended to ensure equal treatment of veterans based on medical need.

"VHA serves every Veteran without regard to personal characteristics unrelated to medical need," he wrote. "All personnel must ensure consistent, mission-aligned care delivery."

The memo requires network directors and office heads to certify within 14 days that noncompliant activities have ended.

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 300,000 VA employees, criticized the guidance. Tiffany McPherson, chair of the union's PRIDE group, said some LGBTQ+ veterans might avoid treatment "out of fear of being misgendered, stigmatized, or treated with disrespect."

"The VA knew these risks before issuing this memo, so what does it say when leadership moves forward anyway?" McPherson said. "These actions don't just impact veterans. This sends a chilling effect to all employees to keep them from speaking up — discouraging inclusive behavior and creating a workplace culture built on fear and silence.

"Dignity isn't an ideology, and respect isn't political. No veteran should have to choose between being seen for who they are and receiving the care they earned through their service. They fought for us, so we fight for them — all of them."

The directive states that congressionally authorized programs, including women's and minority veterans programs, will remain unaffected.

"VA must ensure all Veterans are treated based on their clinical needs and without discrimination," Bartrum wrote. "This guidance ensures VHA will do just that."