Senate Advances $895B Defense Bill with Transgender Care Limits

Senate Senate
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The U.S. Senate on Monday voted 83-12 to advance the $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), setting Pentagon policy for fiscal year 2025. The bill, which could pass as soon as Tuesday, will then head to President Joe Biden for signing.

The NDAA, a bipartisan compromise negotiated over weeks, authorizes record military spending, addressing equipment purchases and competition with rivals like China and Russia. It also prioritizes improvements in the quality of life for service members, including a 14.5% pay raise for the lowest-ranking troops and 4.5% for others, alongside funding for housing, schools, and childcare centers.

A controversial provision banning TRICARE, the military health program, from covering certain gender-affirming care for transgender children—specifically procedures posing sterilization risks—highlighted the growing role of transgender issues in U.S. politics. The provision advanced despite opposition from some Democrats, as Republicans, having gained control of Congress and the White House in the recent elections, emphasized social policies.

However, other Republican proposals, including prohibiting TRICARE from covering gender-affirming care for transgender adults and reversing the Pentagon’s abortion travel policy, were excluded from the final bill.

While the NDAA authorizes Pentagon programs, it does not allocate funding. Congress must pass a separate spending bill to fund these programs for the fiscal year ending September 2025, likely delayed until March.

Lawmakers continue to take pride in passing the NDAA annually for over six decades, reinforcing its status as a cornerstone of U.S. defense policy.

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