Fourteen Democratic senators, led by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, are introducing an amendment to the defense spending bill to remove a provision that bans coverage of gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members. The $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House with 281-140 votes, with the provision included. Baldwin argued that military families should have the right to make healthcare decisions for their children, not politicians.
House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed for the provision to be added to prioritize “military lethality” over what he called “radical woke ideology.” If the provision remains in the bill, it would be the first federal statute directed at transgender people. The amendment is co-sponsored by several senators including Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and Chuck Schumer is hopeful that the Senate can pass the bill soon.
The provision could impact 6,000 to 7,000 children of U.S. service members, according to estimates. The Modern Military Association of America estimates there are roughly 10,000 transgender youths with parents in the military. Congress has been debating transgender rights issues, with some Republicans pushing back against transgender individuals using bathrooms that align with their gender identities.
Overall, the amendment seeks to protect the healthcare decisions of military families and ensure access to lifesaving care for transgender children. The bill must pass the Senate before Jan. 1, with President Joe Biden having the final decision on whether to sign or veto it.
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