The Senate approved the Pentagon’s $895 billion annual budget, including a provision blocking funding for transgender surgeries on children. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed with bipartisan support, despite the controversy over the transgender provision. The bill provides a 1% increase in defense spending over the previous year and includes a 4.5% pay raise for service members starting in 2025.
Senator Tammy Baldwin and other Democrats opposed the provision on transgender care, as it could impact thousands of children of service members. The NDAA also aims to improve conditions for service members, with a focus on recruitment efforts and border security. Republican Senator Joni Ernst added an amendment allowing the Department of Defense to protect the border from drones, addressing concerns about national security.
The NDAA includes a hiring freeze on diversity, equity, and inclusion roles until the Department of Defense completes an investigation into DEI programs. The bill also addresses issues related to business contracts with contractors who advertise on conservative-leaning outlets. GOP lawmakers pushed for other policies, such as banning mask mandates and restricting transgender coverage for adults, which did not make it into the final bill.
House Speaker Mike Johnson highlighted the $31 billion in savings achieved by addressing inefficient programs and bureaucracy within the Pentagon. Congress faces a deadline to avoid a government shutdown and properly fund the government for the current fiscal year. Despite the controversies surrounding specific provisions, the NDAA is set to be signed into law by President Biden, providing funding for the Pentagon’s operations and service members.
