U.S. House Approves $895B Defense Bill with Transgender Care Ban, Awaiting Senate Vote

Dec 12, 2024, 01:33 PM

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2025, authorizing $895 billion in defense spending. The bill includes a controversial provision that prohibits the military's health care system from providing taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries for minors, prompting backlash from Democrats. Despite this, the NDAA passed with a vote of 281 to 140, with 81 Democrats joining 200 Republicans in support. The legislation also addresses military lethality, bans critical race theory in military academies, ends diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) bureaucracy, and combats antisemitism. It provides a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members, improves housing for military families, and expands U.S. joint military exercises with Israel. The bill now heads to the Senate for approval, where it may face further contention over the transgender care provision and other cultural issues.