WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Pentagon leadership on June 26, 2026, requesting changes to the TRICARE program. The letter calls on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to eliminate rules within TRICARE that deny certain applied behavior analysis therapies to military families.

Applied behavior analysis therapy helps children communicate and learn daily life skills. Both senators are members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which oversees the Defense Health Agency and TRICARE. The letter urged the Defense Department to establish applied behavior analysis therapies as a basic benefit under the TRICARE program.

TRICARE introduced new requirements for applied behavior analysis coverage in 2021 and narrowed the scope of services provided. Senator Gillibrand stated, "It is unacceptable that military families are being denied essential care for their autistic children." She added, "By refusing to provide ABA therapy as a basic medical benefit, TRICARE is failing our service members and forcing overwhelmed families to navigate a frustrating bureaucratic maze just to secure limited life-changing care."

Logan Cabiao, a 10-year-old with a severe form of autism, is nonverbal and requires constant supervision and care. Logan receives TRICARE coverage through his father, Mario Cabiao, a retired Air Force pilot. Logan had been receiving applied behavior analysis therapy for several years. His mother, Kristi Cabiao, said, "Logan had been receiving ABA therapy for several years, which had been 'life-changing' for the family."

Kristi Cabiao founded a nonprofit to advocate for changes to TRICARE coverage rules and frequently meets with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. She visited Capitol Hill in March 2026. After the senators' letter was sent, she said, "I'm excited to see that they are supporting publicly and pushing for the DOD to implement these changes." Cabiao indicated that key lawmakers had informed her that the budget was constrained and the Defense Health Agency lacked sufficient funds to cover services, with changes not anticipated in 2026.

Sen. Gillibrand and Sen. Schmitt have also advocated for an independent analysis by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. This organization has recommended that TRICARE update its coverage policies to include applied behavior analysis as a basic benefit. The Defense Health Agency, which is part of the Defense Department, declined to comment for an initial report on military healthcare coverage and did not immediately respond to questions regarding the letter from the senators.