The Biden administration has rolled out a plan to use taxpayer funds to pay for gender transition surgeries for veterans, sparking a backlash from some conservatives on Capitol Hill and other critics who said the White House should spend the money elsewhere. Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough announced the new policy Saturday during a Pride event in Orlando, Florida. The initiative will not go into effect right away, and it will likely take years for the federal government to write new rules and regulations extending VA health care benefits to cover the “gender confirmation” procedures.