Pentagon Launches $10,000 Fertility Preservation Pilot for Deployed Troops
The Pentagon will reimburse active-duty service members up to $10,000 annually for egg freezing and $500 for sperm preservation under a new three-year pilot program starting September 14. The initiative, authorized by the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, targets troops facing hazardous deployments or long separations from partners. Eligibility requires specific deployment orders or geographic separation, and participants must have an advanced medical directive for their gametes. The Defense Health Agency will evaluate the program's impact on readiness, costs, and retention.