US House Directs Defense Department to Restore Chiropractic to More Than a Dozen Military Bases

National Defense Authorization Act Now Goes to the Senate for Consideration

On September 10, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a plan to restore chiropractic services at more than a dozen U.S. military bases where services have been arbitrarily discontinued. The action is consistent with the Defense Health Agency’s (DHA) ongoing concern over the use of opioids by active-duty members of the military and calls to make non-addictive alternatives for pain management more readily available to military personnel.

The amendment to H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, was introduced by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Florida). The National Defense Authorization Act is an annual bill passed by Congress to fund and govern the U.S. Department of Defense and other defense-related activities. It was in the 2001 NDAA (Public Law 106-398) that Congress first established the original chiropractic benefit in the Department of Defense healthcare system.

“I am pleased to announce the adoption and passage of six of my amendments in this year’s NDAA,” said Rep. Steube. “These provisions will strengthen our national security-… and ensure greater support for our veterans and servicemembers. I look forward to seeing these measures deliver meaningful results for the American people both at home and abroad.”

The Steube amendment is in response to chiropractic clinic closures over the past year caused by contracts with participating chiropractors being allowed to elapse. The amendment:

Calls on the Defense Health Agency to develop a plan to reopen closed clinics and to explore the feasibility of putting chiropractors stationed at military facilities in the federal General Schedule (GS) system

Directs DHA to report back to the House and Senate on its progress by March 31, 2026

Surveys show chiropractic services are highly valued at U.S. military facilities. Reports show that these clinics provide proven, cost-effective care to hundreds of patients monthly, offering a range of non-drug services to address painful musculoskeletal conditions commonly experienced by members of the military and enabling them to return to service.

“We thank Rep. Steube for his foresight to tackle this issue and we also acknowledge House Armed Services Committee Chair Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Alabama) for his long-standing support of chiropractic in the military,” said John Falardeau, American Chiropractic Association (ACA) senior vice president of public policy and advocacy.

A four-year clinical trial conducted at several military sites – the largest chiropractic clinical trial on record – showed evidence that chiropractic care, when added to usual medical care, resulted in moderate short-term improvements in low back pain intensity in active-duty personnel. The results of the trial, published in 2018 by JAMA Network Open, served as additional support for the inclusion of chiropractic services as a component of multidisciplinary health care for back pain, as currently recommended by existing guidelines.

The National Defense Authorization Act now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Sources

Congressman Greg Steube Press Release, “House Passes Steube Amendments to NDAA,” September 11, 2025

History of Chiropractic in the Military Health System

1994: Congress directs the Department of Defense to establish a three-year chiropractic trial project at no fewer than 10 military treatment facilities (MTFs), beginning in 1995, to “to evaluate the feasibility and advisability of furnishing chiropractic care through the medical care facilities of the Armed Forces.”

1995: The project begins at four Army sites, three Air Force sites, and three Navy sites, with 20 chiropractors. All sites were fully operational by November 1995.

1997: The Chiropractic Health Care Demonstration Project extended for an additional year.

1998: Three additional sites added to the project.

1999: Chiropractic Health Care Demonstration Project extended through the end of the year.

2000: Congress approved the development of permanent chiropractic services and benefits for members of the uniformed services.

2001: The National Defense Authorization Act mandated that DOD create a plan to fully implement the chiropractic benefit.

2003: By fiscal year 2003, 31 chiropractic clinics in the military health system had been opened.

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