Senate Advances $895 Billion Defense Bill Despite Democratic Gripes Over Transgender Care Provision
The Senate voted 63-7 to advance the annual $895 billion defense policy bill, moving the legislation closer to passage despite Democratic concerns over a transgender care provision. The bill will now head to a final vote later this week.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House last week with a vote of 281-140, but with a larger margin of Democrats opposing the bill than in previous years. The legislation details how the allocated $895.2 billion will be spent, representing a 1% increase over last year’s budget.
A significant portion of the bill focuses on quality-of-life improvements for service members, including a 14.5% pay increase for junior enlisted troops and increased access to child care for service members, as well as job support for military spouses. The measure also authorizes a 4.5% across-the-board pay raise for all service members starting January 1.
However, the inclusion of a provision prohibiting Tricare, the military’s healthcare provider, from covering transgender services for minor dependents of service members has raised concerns among some Democrats. The provision is aimed at preventing “medical interventions that could result in sterilization” of minors.
Other provisions in the bill include deploying the National Guard to the southern border to help with illegal immigrant apprehensions and drug flow, as well as opening the door to allowing airmen and Space Force personnel to grow facial hair.
The bill does not include some provisions that were initially included, such as expanding access to IVF for service members or walking back a provision allowing the Pentagon to reimburse service members who have to travel out of state to get an abortion.
The legislation also extends a hiring freeze on DEI-related roles and stops all such recruitment until an investigation into the Pentagon’s DEI programs can be completed. Additionally, it bans the Defense Department from contracting with advertising companies that blacklist conservative news sources.
House Speaker Mike Johnson touted $31 billion in savings in the legislation that would come from cutting “inefficient programs, obsolete weapons, and bloated Pentagon bureaucracy.”