Some Dems Defect, Vote Against Defense Authorization Act Over Trans Issue

The Senate voted on Wednesday to pass the $895 billion Defense Authorization Bill, despite a provision on transgender care that caused concern among some Democrats, sending it to President Biden’s desk for final approval.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was approved 85 to 14 by senators, surpassing the 60 votes needed in the 100-member chamber. The bill moved forward even with the inclusion of a controversial measure that would ban certain gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members, The Hill reported.

“Today, for the 64th consecutive year, the Senate passes a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act to protect the American people and strengthen our security,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a floor speech ahead of the vote. “The NDAA is not perfect, but it still makes several important advances Democrats fought for to secure America’s national defense and take a strong stand against the Chinese Communist Party.”

The measure, which establishes Defense Department policy and priorities for the year, passed the House last week 281-140.

The must-pass legislation, which usually receives broad bipartisan support, faced opposition this time after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) added last-minute language restricting the use of TRICARE funds — the health care program for active-duty service members — for gender-affirming care for children 18 and under of military members.

This change prompted a handful of Democrats to vote against the bill, including Sens. Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), and Ed Markey (Mass.).

But the fact that a transgender provision was included in a defense bill in the first place reinforces President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of former Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the department. Hegseth has repeatedly said that transgenderism has no place in the U.S. military because gender-affirming care is ongoing and essentially makes trans troops non-deployable.

Also, both Trump and Hegseth have said they want the Pentagon and the various U.S. military academies laser-focused on lethality and winning the nation’s wars, not cultural and social issues that distract from producing such a force, especially as global threats from China and other nations grow.

A group of 21 Democratic senators attempted to block the provision at the last minute, introducing an amendment on Monday to remove Johnson’s language. However, the effort failed to pass. Baldwin, who had led the push to eliminate the controversial provision, urged her colleagues to reject the NDAA, arguing that lawmakers’ commitment to U.S. service members had been “broken.”

 

 

Related Posts

Aneurysm: Doctors misdiagnosed my ruptured brain aneurysm at 37 — the key wa.rning sign they overlooked

At just 37 years old, Julie Brothers faced a terrifying health crisis when a ruptured brain aneurysm nearly claimed her life. What began as a sudden, severe “thunderclap headache” was…

Read more

📍 Stockton, California — A Child’s Birthday Party Turns Into Chaos

What began as a joyful child’s birthday party in Stockton turned into tragedy within moments. Laughter, music, and celebration were suddenly replaced by fear and confusion as gunfire erupted without…

Read more

What happens to your blo.od pressure when you eat bananas every day?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a widespread chronic condition impacting over a billion people globally. Often called the “silent killer,” it typically shows no symptoms while progressively damaging vital…

Read more

Freezing bread can preserve freshness, but improper storage causes dryness. Use airtight wrapping, double-layer protection, and proper thawing methods to keep bread soft, flavorful, and ready to enjoy without waste.

With two growing boys at home, bread disappears faster than I can buy it. Sandwich loaves vanish in a day, buns and bagels rarely make it to the second breakfast,…

Read more

Hillary Clinton says Joe Biden made ‘terrible mistake’ running for reelection

Hillary Clinton didn’t whisper it. She detonated it. In a stunning rebuke, the former Secretary of State has called Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection bid a “terrible mistake” — not just…

Read more

Spoiled Sister Sabotages My Luxury Vehicle And Ruins Her Financial Future

I stepped onto my porch one quiet morning to find my sister Ashley pouring soda into the gas tank of my luxury vehicle. She claimed it was a simple mistake…

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *