The House of Representatives approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday in a 281–140 vote. This annual defense bill, authorizing approximately $900 billion in spending, includes a contentious provision that bans gender-transition surgeries and related treatments for minors of military members under the healthcare program Tricare.
The vote saw bipartisan participation, with 200 Republicans and 81 Democrats voting in favor, while 124 Democrats and 16 Republicans opposed the measure, according to the Daily Wire.
Section 708 of the NDAA explicitly states that “medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization may not be provided to a child under the age of 18.” This provision also bars Tricare from covering such procedures for minors.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) emphasized the importance of the measure in combating what he described as “radical gender ideology.” Johnson told reporters, “Taxpayer dollars should never be used to support procedures and treatments that could permanently harm and sterilize young people. This year’s NDAA takes a critical and necessary step to protect the children of American service members from radical gender ideology and experimental drugs.”
Johnson pledged that House Republicans would continue advocating for policies to safeguard children, saying, “We are taking action to protect America’s kids.”
Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) expressed strong support for the legislation, stating, “Today’s NDAA is a step toward restoring our armed forces by rejecting the woke agenda and refocusing on military readiness.” Cloud highlighted other provisions in the bill, including a 19.5% pay raise for junior enlisted personnel and authorization for National Guard deployments to secure the southern border.
Today's NDAA is a step toward restoring our armed forces by rejecting the woke agenda and refocusing on military readiness.
— Congressman Michael Cloud (@RepCloudTX) December 11, 2024
This bill bans TRICARE coverage for sex-change surgeries for minors, authorizes National Guard deployments to secure our southern border, and provides a…
While Cloud acknowledged the bill’s imperfections, he expressed optimism about future actions under the incoming administration. “Thankfully, we will soon have a new Commander-in-Chief who will fully restore our military’s focus on strength and readiness and completely end the woke agenda across the federal government,” he said.
On the other side, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) criticized the measure, labeling it “bigoted against the trans community” and arguing that it denies access to essential healthcare for transgender youth. Similarly, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), Chair of the House Equality Caucus, condemned the provision, stating, “Big Brother, big government attacks like those just don’t belong in this bill.”
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) expressed reservations about including the provision in the NDAA, given President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises to address such policies after taking office. “My preference would have been to let the president, on Jan. 20, deal with these issues,” Rogers said, pointing out that Trump has vowed to end policies reflecting cultural and social debates within the military.
The passage of the NDAA, while significant, sets the stage for continued political debates over cultural issues and military policy as the country approaches the transition of power in January.