The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has withdrawn a proposed rule change that would have allowed transgender veterans to undergo sex reassignment surgeries, citing concerns about appropriate funding.

According to Military.com, "VA has been and will continue to explore a regulatory change that would allow VA to perform gender alteration surgery and a change in the medical benefits package when the availability of appropriate funding".

The proposed rule that has covered the procedure, which is widely considered medically appropriate by major health organizations, has been withdrawn from the fall 2016 Unified Agenda.

The VA currently covers hormone therapy, mental health care, pre-evaluation and long-term care after a sex reassignment surgery for qualified veterans. The change would have been processed only on gender reassignment surgery.

An Executive Order was passed by President Barack Obama that orders agencies to take costs into account when proposing the rule change. According to the official, the sex-change operation rule's rejection by the OMB doesn't mean they don't support it; just the office needs to see funding plans for it, reported by the Washington Blade.

President-elect Donald Trump has not yet confirmed his stand on transgender medical treatment within the military or VA. Trump said he would withdraw the Obama administration's directive for schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice and protect transgender people under the community nationwide

The ban on transgender troops was lifted in June when the Defense Department announced that it would pay for sex-change operations for qualifying transgender troops.

"The decision is very frustrating but not surprising given the result of election", said by Leila Ireland, a transgender who served in the Army as a male.

The military community family member hopes the military community will continue to fight for transgender benefits.

Ashley Broadway, president of American Military Association said," We implore fair-minded Americans to stand united in holding our new administration officials accountable by insisting this be fixed."

Related