Pierce County women veterans’ care at risk with DEI rollback | Opinion
For generations, women veterans have been very central to the military community in Pierce County, Washington, contributing across different eras of service and continuing to impact the region long after leaving their uniforms behind. Currently, the region hosts nearly 11,500 female personnel, accounting for just over 14% of its total veteran population. But though they remain a minority, their numbers are steadily growing, and so are their distinct needs. Despite this reality, women veterans continue to encounter gaps in recognition and care — a challenge that becomes even more pressing now as the VA moves to conclude its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs..
Ending VA’s DEI Initiatives
The VA’s recent move to wind down its DEI efforts following an executive order has raised serious concerns about the implications for underserved communities — particularly women veterans. Nationally, the agency plans to terminate more than $6.1 million in related contracts. Although the government has already explained that these resources will be diverted to core services, the shift raises concerns about how gender-informed care will be sustained. And such a situation resonates deeply with numerous female veterans who face a range of health and social challenges that differ in nature and frequency from those of their male peers.
Research consistently shows that these personnel are more susceptible to various mental health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression than civilians, especially if they experienced sexual abuse or assault. Worse, these psychological threats carry tragic consequences — military women were 65% more likely to commit suicide than civilians. Besides mental health, many female veterans, including those from Pierce County, also endure serious conditions, including uterine and ovarian cancers, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, and pregnancy complications, mainly because of the pervasiveness of hazardous chemicals at numerous military sites. For instance, Fort Lewis—just 9 miles southwest of Tacoma—reported alarming contamination with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and asbestos, putting stationed personnel in grave danger.
These layered risks underscore why women veterans in Pierce County and nationwide cannot be adequately served through a generalized approach alone. Historically, VA’s DEI efforts have played a role in strengthening provider training as well as improving outreach and drawing attention to gender-specific health patterns shaped by both trauma and toxic exposure. With those programs now being phased out, the challenge is not simply preserving institutional awareness of the issue but more of ensuring the government’s proactivity in identifying and responding to these unique needs.
Without sustained, structured focus on women’s health within the VA system, gaps in screening, diagnosis and long-term support may widen — leaving a substantial portion of Pierce County’s veteran population increasingly vulnerable.
Cristina Johnson serves as a veteran advocate at the Asbestos Ships Organization, a nonprofit that raises awareness of veterans’ exposure to toxic substances.