House Defense Bill Faces Pushback Over Anti-Transgender Provision

Democrats and advocacy groups condemn a GOP-backed amendment restricting gender-affirming care for military families' transgender children.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes a Republican amendment barring TRICARE from covering gender-affirming care for minors that could result in sterilization.
Democrats argue the provision endangers children’s health and forces military families to choose between service and necessary medical care.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has defended the amendment, but medical experts and studies refute GOP claims about the nature of transgender health care for minors.
The $884 billion bill also includes bipartisan measures like pay raises for service members and funding for military assets, but the anti-trans provision has drawn significant opposition.
The bill’s fate remains uncertain, with Democrats and some Republicans potentially opposing it in upcoming votes, while the Democratic-controlled Senate may reject the current version.