More than 60 House members wrote to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus this week to object to the Navy's initial ruling, saying the service was violating the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.
“Conscience rights should be extended to health care providers who refuse to participate in actions which terminate the life of a human being after fertilization," said Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America.
Obama has demonstrated his sympathy for transgender issues in the past, declaring June to be “National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.”
"The Administration will strongly oppose legislation that unnecessarily restricts women's reproductive freedoms and consumers' private insurance options," said the White House in a statement.