MARCH Act Repeals Ban on Military Abortion Care: DoD Facilities Can Now Offer Services

The newly introduced MARCH for Military Servicemembers Act (Military Access to Reproductive Care and Health for Military Servicemembers Act) is short, but its impact is significant for active-duty personnel. This bill zeroes in on one specific, long-standing rule: it completely repeals Section 1093 of Title 10 of the U.S. Code. Why does that matter? Because Section 1093 is the rule that has historically banned the Department of Defense (DoD) from using its funds or facilities to provide abortion care. By striking this section, the MARCH Act removes the legal restriction that prevented military hospitals and clinics from offering these services.

The Change on Base: Real-World Access

For servicemembers, especially those stationed overseas or in remote areas of the U.S. where civilian health options are scarce or restricted, this is a major shift in healthcare access. Previously, even if a military doctor was available, the DoD facility itself was legally barred from using its resources for abortion care. The repeal in Section 2 means that the DoD now has the flexibility to offer, or at least support the provision of, these services within its existing healthcare infrastructure. Think of a service member stationed at a large base in a state with very limited access—this bill allows the base hospital, which is often the most accessible and affordable option, to step in and provide comprehensive care.

Who Feels the Impact?

This legislation primarily benefits active-duty servicemembers and their dependents who rely on TRICARE and military medical facilities for their healthcare. It’s about health equity, ensuring that personnel have access to the same range of medical options regardless of where the military sends them. For the DoD itself, this removes a unique restriction that complicated care provision and forced service members to seek care off-base, often at great personal expense or logistical difficulty. The bill’s action is precise: it doesn’t mandate the service, but it removes the legal barrier preventing it.

The Cost and the Clarity

The bill is remarkably low on vagueness because its action is so surgical—it simply deletes a specific section of law. There are no fuzzy definitions or complex new bureaucracies; the rule is gone, opening the door for the DoD to set its own policy on providing care. However, it’s important to note that the removal of this restriction (Section 1093) means that groups who object to federal funds or facilities being used for abortion care will see this as a significant policy change. The bill doesn't introduce new funding, but it allows existing DoD healthcare funds and facilities to be utilized for this purpose, which is the core of the policy debate this repeal addresses.