House Pentagon funding bill would ban transgender treatments for minor children of military personnel

The GOP-controlled House of Representatives recently passed its annual defense spending bill, which includes a significant provision banning transgender medical treatments for minor children of U.S. service members. The 1,800-page bill specifies that medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization are prohibited for children under the age of 18 who are dependents of military personnel.

Republicans argued that taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund potentially experimental and harmful procedures for minors. House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson praised the passage of the defense measure, emphasizing that the primary focus of military personnel should be protecting the nation rather than promoting “woke ideology.” The bill will now head to the Senate for approval in the Democrat-run chamber.

While the provision banning transgender treatment for dependent children of U.S. service members was a win for Republicans, the bill did not include several other Republican-backed provisions related to social issues. Notably absent were efforts to ban TRICARE from covering transgender treatments for adults and a proposal to overturn the Pentagon’s policy of reimbursing travel expenses for service members seeking abortions in states where the procedure is restricted.

Democrats expressed outrage over the provision targeting TRICARE coverage for service members’ transgender children. The House Armed Services Committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Adam Smith, announced that he would vote against the bill despite supporting other portions of the package. House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries did not advise his party members on how to vote on the bill.

The United Nations’ Human Rights Council (HRC) condemned the provision as an “attack” on military families, stating that it could force service members to choose between staying in the military or providing health care for their children. The Senate’s response to the transgender treatment provision will be crucial in shaping the final content of the defense policy for the upcoming fiscal year.

In addition to the transgender treatment provision, the defense spending bill includes limits on diversity, equity, and inclusion-based recruitment, as well as restrictions on teaching critical race theory in military-run schools. Other policies in the bill provide a 14.5% pay increase for junior enlisted troops, expanded child care access, and enhanced job assistance for military spouses.

Overall, the $884 billion National Defense Authorization Act passed in a 281-140 vote, with 124 Democrats and 16 Republicans voting against it. The bill reflects a year of bipartisan focus on addressing recruitment challenges within the military. The Senate’s decision on the transgender treatment provision will be crucial in determining the final outcome of the defense policy for the upcoming fiscal year.