Pentagon launches three-year program to reimburse troops for sperm and egg freezing

The Pentagon has initiated a three-year demonstration to reimburse active-duty troops for cryopreservation of sperm or eggs, offering up to $500 annually for sperm and $10,000 for oocyte services. Eligibility extends to service members receiving hazardous-duty pay, deploying to danger zones, or facing separations of at least 180 days, including sea duty, across all branches of the armed forces. The effort fulfills a requirement of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act to evaluate costs, participation and long-term readiness implications.

Reimbursements may be applied to retrieval, medical testing, storage and shipping, but participants must sign an advanced directive specifying the fate of gametes after death. The move responds to longstanding calls from families and advocacy groups for fertility support, recalling a 2016 pledge by former Defense Secretary Ash Carter that never materialized. Past cases, such as the post-mortem sperm extraction of West Point cadet Peter Zhu, highlight the need for formal assistance.