Senate Advances NDAA Amid Transgender Care Debate

Sen. Tammy Baldwin and 20 Democratic senators have proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) aimed at removing a provision that restricts transgender medical procedures for minors, specifically for military families. The NDAA, which has already passed the House, includes a controversial measure that prohibits TRICARE from covering treatments for transgender youth if they could result in sterilization. Baldwin emphasized the importance of allowing servicemembers to make healthcare decisions for their children, asserting that such decisions should not be dictated by politicians. Despite opposition from some senators, the NDAA advanced with an 83-12 vote in the Senate, underscoring its bipartisan support for military funding. Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans defend the provision as necessary to protect children from what they describe as radical gender ideology. The NDAA allocates $895 billion for military spending and aims to address various defense-related issues, including a significant pay increase for service members.