Senate Approves $895B FY25 NDAA with 14.5% Troop Pay Raise, Transgender Care Ban

Dec 18, 2024, 05:35 PM

The U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with a decisive 85-14 vote, sending the $895 billion defense bill to President Biden for his signature. The legislation includes significant pay raises for military personnel, providing a 14.5% increase for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% raise for others, and funds military housing and facilities. It also contains a controversial provision that bans coverage of gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members, prompting 14 Democratic senators, led by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, to propose an amendment to remove the restriction. Despite some opposition over the transgender care ban, the bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, reflecting a commitment to strengthening national defense, countering China's power, and supporting the troops.