President Biden signed the $895 billion Defense Department authorization bill Monday night, even though the massive package included a provision limiting transgender care.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed in the Senate85-14, even introducing a controversial measure that would limit the exploit of funds from TRICARE — the health program for active-duty military members — for gender-affirming care for children of military members ages 18 and younger.
Biden has repeatedly promised to veto laws that discriminate against transgender people, but decided to sign the bill just a month before leaving office. The about-face is sure to anger advocates and some military families with transgender children. Who says the determination? is a “slap in the face” based on misinformation and misunderstandings about the trans community.
The bill, which sets the Pentagon’s policy for the year, is must-pass legislation and typically receives broad bipartisan support. But many Democrats voted against it after the Speaker’s presidency Mike Johnson (R-La.) added last-minute language that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender children of military members. It passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 281 to 140 last week.
Additionally, a handful of Senate Democrats voted against it, including Sens. Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Elizabeth Warren (fair) and Ed Markey (Mass.). Several Democratic senators also tried to block the provision on Monday. bring in a change that would be noticeable in Johnson’s language.
The FY 2025 NDAA includes other provisions such as a 14.5 percent pay escalate for junior troops and a 4.5 percent pay escalate for all other military personnel, as well as funding to strengthen the U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific and build novel warships, aircraft and vehicles .
The compromise bill was introduced earlier this month after weeks of closed-door negotiations between Democrats and Republicans. It also includes language barring the Defense Department from supporting critical race theory in academic institutions and imposes a one-year hiring freeze for positions related to diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the military.
