Infomastaro

By Peter Aitken

Politics Weekend Editor

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Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, along with Representative James Walkinshaw of Virginia, both Democrats, has urged President Donald Trump to "finally start delivering" on his promise to increase access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and reduce the associated costs so American families can more easily start families.

"All we’re asking Trump to do is finally start delivering on his campaign promise for free IVF," Duckworth wrote on X. "Our federal workers deserve the same level of coverage as Members of Congress. This should be a no-brainer."

Newsweek reached out to the White House and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) by email outside of normal business hours on Sunday for comment.

Why It Matters

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump addressed a range of issues and pledged to tackle everything from economic hardship to healthcare concerns, including his famous "no tax on tips" pledge and his pledge to make IVF accessible for all Americans.

"I have been a leader on IVF, which is fertilization," Trump said during a debate against Vice President Kamala Harris. "I've been a leader on it. They know that and everybody else knows it."

To that end, he signed an executive order last February that aimed at expanding access to IVF and reducing its costs, but that order directed federal agencies to develop polices to reduce costs, examine possible ways to expand access, and to protect access to IVF.

However, by August 2025, it appeared that the president had walked back his broader plan, with The Washington Post reporting the administration had moved away from plans to improve access due to legal constraints, since it may require congressional approval and put the president at odds with other conservatives.

The administration made another update in October 2025, announcing that employers could voluntarily offer standalone IVF coverage alongside negotiated discounts on certain IVF drugs, rather than pursue a general government mandate.

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What To Know

In a letter to Scott Kupor, the director of OPM, Duckworth and Walkinshaw reminded him of Trump's campaign pledge, quoting him in two instances, in which he said: "Under the Trump administration, we are going to be paying for [IVF] that treatment, or we're going to be mandating that the insurance company pay," as well as, "Your government will pay for, or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for, all costs associated with IVF treatment."

Specifically, however, the lawmakers focused their request on Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), asking that OPM cover IVF for federal workers and "providing access to the same coverage for civil servants that Members of Congress, congressional staff, and private-sector employees already have."

"Many everyday Americans struggling with the painful challenge of infertility and unable to afford IVF believed Donald Trump," the letter stated. "They cast their ballots to return him to office with the explicit expectation that, during his second term, president Trump would make the federal government or private insurance companies pay for 'all costs associated with IVF treatment.'"

"One year into the second term of the Trump administration, President Trump has folded in the face of those opposed to IVF, fulfilling their prediction that President Trump's campaign promise to make IVF free for every American was nothing more than a cynical, deceptive lie," they continued.

The lawmakers go on to anecdotes of federal employees who struggle to start families since IVF is their only option, but it is not something covered by their health plans currently. This is compounded by the threat of downsizing of the federal government, which would reduce their accessibility even further.

The letter also points to OPM's previous role in helping "secure baseline fertility protections across the program and spurred expanded IVF options, including requirements for coverage of artificial insemination and associated drugs and a requirement that all FEHB carriers cover IVF related drugs for 3 cycles annually."

They urge OPM to act on the opportunity to "aggressively expand IVF coverage mandates across FEHB," stressing that "the bottom line is that OPM setting FEHB's required IVF benefit at an identical or equivalent level to the DC Health Link IVF benefit requirements would bring fairness to the federal workforce."

What People Are Saying

President Donald Trump in February 2025 on Truth Social: "Under my leadership, the Republican Party will always support the creation of strong, thriving, healthy American families. We want to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, not harder! That includes supporting the availability of fertility treatments like IVF in every State in America. Like the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of Americans, including the VAST MAJORITY of Republicans, Conservatives, Christians, and Pro-Life Americans, I strongly support the availability of IVF for couples who are trying to have a precious baby. Today, I am calling on the Alabama Legislature to act quickly to find an immediate solution to preserve the availability of IVF in Alabama. The Republican Party should always be on the side of the Miracle of Life - and the side of Mothers, Fathers, and their Beautiful Babies. IVF is an important part of that, and our Great Republican Party will always be with you, in your quest, for the ULTIMATE JOY IN LIFE!"

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