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Biden Signs $895 Billion Defense Budget for 2025, Including Pay Raises and Restrictions on Transgender Care

Dec 24, 2024, 07:41 AM

President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2025 on December 23, 2024, approving a defense budget of $895 billion. This budget represents a $9 billion increase from the previous year and includes provisions aimed at countering China's growing military influence. The bill also authorizes pay raises for junior enlisted service members. However, it includes a controversial provision that restricts medical treatment for transgender military dependents under 18, which Biden publicly opposed. The signing of the NDAA has drawn criticism from advocates for transgender rights and has prompted a formal response from China, which expressed strong disapproval of the bill's content related to its military activities. The bill was finalized after both chambers of Congress reached an agreement earlier in December.