Senate Advances $895 Billion Defense Bill with Transgender Care Ban Controversy

The National Defense Authorization Act includes record military spending, troop pay raises, and a disputed ban on gender-affirming care for minors under military health coverage.

The U.S. Senate voted 72-12 to advance the $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), setting up a final vote expected this week.
The bill includes a 4.5% pay raise for most troops and a 14.5% increase for the lowest-ranking service members, along with funding for military housing, schools, and childcare centers.
A controversial provision bans the military health program, TRICARE, from covering gender-affirming care for transgender minors, leading 14 Democratic senators to propose an amendment to remove it.
The NDAA also includes measures to boost U.S. military competitiveness with China and Russia, authorizing funds for new warships, aircraft, and vehicles, as well as a Taiwan arms fund modeled after the Ukraine initiative.
Despite bipartisan support for the bill overall, some Democrats and advocacy groups have criticized the inclusion of the transgender care ban as a politically motivated policy rider.