Defense Bill Halts Transgender Medical Care for Military Kids

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WASHINGTON — House Democrats are poised to make a difficult decision this week regarding the final version of the annual defense bill. The proposed legislation includes pay raises for military personnel but also introduces a ban on coverage for transgender care for U.S. service members’ children.

During a procedural vote on Tuesday, all present Democrats opposed advancing the bill, resulting in a narrow 211-207 outcome. A final vote could occur as early as Wednesday. This package has been a bipartisan staple in Congress for 63 consecutive years.

Rep. Adam Smith, the leading Democrat on the House Committee on Armed Services, has publically declared his opposition to the defense policy bill. He emphasized that indiscriminately denying healthcare based on prejudiced views towards transgender individuals is unethical. “The inclusion of this harmful provision puts the lives of children at risk,” he asserted.

The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025 proposes significant funding totaling nearly $900 billion. It aims to implement a 4.5% pay increase for all military personnel, alongside an additional 10% raise for junior soldiers in April. The bill also includes provisions for improving military housing and establishing new protocols for assessing and preventing blast-related traumatic brain injuries.

Among the more controversial aspects of the bill is a four-line clause prohibiting coverage for minors under the military’s TRICARE health program concerning “medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization.” The specifics of which interventions would be disallowed remain undefined.

Gender dysphoria, characterized by a mismatch between an individual’s expressed gender and their assigned sex at birth, is recognized by medical professionals as a condition that can lead to severe psychological distress. Rep. Mark Pocan, chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, criticized the bill, calling it a hypocritical use of government power to control the medical decisions of service members and their families.

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández expressed concerns from the House floor, arguing that the lack of appropriate care can lead to dire consequences, including suicide. She accused her Republican colleagues of overstepping by presuming to know better than parents and doctors regarding the medical needs of children.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson championed the bill’s investments and pay increases during a recent press conference, underscoring the importance of improving housing and blocking funds for critical race theory discussions in military education.

A Democratic initiative aimed at removing the transgender coverage prohibition failed in the House Committee on Rules. Smith reiterates the importance of recognizing gender dysphoria and the effectiveness of available treatments, which include hormone therapy and mental health support. He cited that 6,000 to 7,000 children of U.S. service members are currently undergoing treatment for gender dysphoria.

It is noteworthy that coverage for gender-affirming care for military personnel’s children was not available until September 2016. According to a statistical analysis from JAMA Pediatrics in March 2019, just over 2,500 military-affiliated youth received such treatment between October 2009 and April 2017.

Last updated 3:51 p.m., Dec. 10, 2024