Hi everyone,

We want to share two recent letters that DOJ GEN sent to Administration leaders addressing issues of great concern to our members: IVF coverage in our federal insurance plans, and DOJ’s new in-person work policy.

 IVF coverage

Today, DOJ GEN sent a letter to OPM urging it to require federal insurance plans to expand IVF coverage for the 2025 Plan Year.

• For years, DOJ GEN members who rely on IVF have told us about the hardships of having to pay for it out of pocket.

• This Administration has meaningfully expanded coverage. For example, starting in 2024, FEHB carriers must cover IVF medications for three cycles. Our letter asks that OPM go even further in 2025 by mandating the coverage of medical treatments, which comprise the lion’s share of IVF costs.

• At a time when reproductive healthcare—including IVF—has faced unprecedented attacks, protecting its own workers’ access is an important step the Administration can and should take. As we explain in the letter, doing so will also help the Administration recruit and retain top talent, and further its DEIA goals.

• The LGBTQ+ community is disproportionately harmed when IVF treatments are inaccessible, so we’re absolutely delighted that DOJ Pride joined the letter.

• Many thanks to DOJ GEN’s fertility benefits working group. If you want to join, please email Abi Farthing at abigail.farthing@usdoj.gov.

DOJ’s in-person work policy

On April 29, DOJ GEN sent a letter to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco asking that DOJ enforce its In-Person Work Memo (Memo) equitably and assess its effects on the workforce.

• The letter requests that DOJ (1) require components to track recruitment and retention by demographics to gauge whether the Memo is disproportionately harming underrepresented groups; (2) mandate components to ask, during exit interviews, whether the Memo affected employees’ decision to leave; (3) encourage all components to offer flexible work options; (4) assess the Memo’s impact on the workforce through surveys; and (5) review the Memo within six months of its Jan. 2024 implementation to determine whether adjustments are necessary.

• We’re so grateful that the DOJ Association of Black Attorneys, DOJ Association of Hispanic Employees for Advancement and Development, and DOJ Muslim Americans in Public Service for enthusiastically agreeing to join the letter. This is another example of how our partnerships have helped to amplify our messages, and how our issues cut across DOJ’s diverse communities.

• Federal News Network already covered our letter in an article that also reports on advocacy by our friends at NAAUSA.

• Many thanks to Colleen Phillips and DOJ GEN’s workplace flexibility working group. If you want to join, shoot Colleen an email at colleen.phillips@usdoj.gov.

 Finally, just a reminder to ask your friends/coworkers to join DOJ GEN’s membership—which is open to everyone in the Department—by completing this quick form. Also, please follow us on social media!