Reports from the Department of Defense or relevant agencies

Democratic Senators, Led by Baldwin, Seek to Remove Transgender Care Ban from NDAA

Dec 16, 2024, 09:01 PM

A group of 14 Democratic senators, led by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., plans to introduce an amendment to remove language from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would ban coverage of gender-affirming care for transgender children of servicemembers. The NDAA, which passed the House by a vote of 281-140, includes a provision that prohibits 'medical treatment for military dependents under the age of 18 who are diagnosed with gender dysphoria' under the military’s health care program, Tricare. The amendment seeks to protect military families' right to make their own healthcare decisions for their children. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has supported this provision, emphasizing the prioritization of military lethality over 'radical woke ideology.' If the amendment fails, it could affect 6,000 to 7,000 children of U.S. servicemembers. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the bill this week before leaving Washington for the rest of the year, and the NDAA must pass before Jan. 1.