FY 2025 NDAA On Track to Clear Senate, Despite Gender Issue Debate

The Senate cleared a key hurdle in passing the $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (NDAA).

The Senate voted 83-12 vote to advance the legislation, teeing it up for a final vote, after it earlier passed the House on a 281-140 vote. 81 House Democrats joined Republicans to support the legislation, which typically passes with broad bipartisan support. 

Gender Language Causes Uproar

However, some Democrats were upset that House Republicans inserted language to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members. The provision stops the Pentagon’s TRICARE health insurance plan from covering the costs of gender dysphoria treatments for people under 18.

For his part, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said the bill refocuses "the Pentagon on military lethality, not radical woke ideology. This legislation permanently bans transgender treatment for minors, prohibits critical race theory in military academies, ends the DEI bureaucracy, and combats antisemitism.”

But Democrats saw it much differently.

“The medical profession has no dispute that in some instances, this treatment is crucial to the health and well-being of our children,” said Representative Adam Smith (D-WA), Armed Services Committee Ranking Member. “And we are now denying that to the children of servicemembers.”

Even some Republicans were upset, calling the move was unnecessary, as President-elect Trump could easily issue an executive order on the issue when he takes office.

“We would have 375, 380 votes but for that one provision, which is irrelevant after January 20,” said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL).

The more than 1,800-page legislation includes a variety of less controversial provisions.

They include:

·      A 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5 percent raise for all other military personnel.

·      Funds for seven new warships, about 200 aircraft, and over 300 vehicles.

·      An increase in funding for defense initiatives in the Indo-Pacific.

·      Joint military exercises with Israel.

·      Initiatives to educate members of the military on AI and to speed its adoption.

·      An amendment that suggests the Department of Defense (DOD) use AI to achieve a clean audit.

·      Construction of military housing, schools, and childcare centers.

Whenever it passes the Senate, President Biden is expected to sign the legislation. The NDAA has been passed every year, for over six decades.