Dr. Mary Brinkmeyer, a psychologist at the Hampton VA Medical Center, resigned due to unethical directives following President Trump's executive order that undermines federal recognition of transgender identities. This order bars funding for gender-affirming care and mandates a strict male-female gender definition based on birth sex. Brinkmeyer, who oversaw care for hundreds of transgender veterans, felt a moral obligation to oppose policies that strip affirming care from vulnerable populations. Despite the VA's announcement of a review period for these changes, significant adjustments were reportedly already underway, prompting her resignation.
I could not, in good conscience, continue to work in an environment that was actively stripping away affirming care for veterans who need it most.
As clinicians, we have an ethical duty to do no harm, and what's happening now is the opposite of that.
The VA announced a 120-day review period to assess its impact. But, changes were already being implemented behind the scenes.
Brinkmeyer oversaw care for an estimated 300 to 400 transgender veterans at the facility.
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