Washington, D.C. — On Dec. 18, the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 85 to 14.
The bill, which sets a $895 billion budget for the U.S. Department of Defense, became controversial due to a section that bans Tricare from providing coverage for “medical treatment for military dependents under the age of 18 who are diagnosed with gender dysphoria.”
The addition to the bill has been decried by pro-transgender parties as an attack from Speaker Mike Johnson. Sen. Fetterman joined colleagues in attempting to amend the bill to remove the part concerning gender-affirming care, but the amendment was rejected.
Following the vote, Sen. Fetterman released the following statement:
“I’m unapologetically supportive of our national defense and the trans community. I strongly reject the Speaker’s performative show vote. My AYE vote on the NDAA strongly affirms my commitment to our national security. My vote does not, in any way, diminish my voice or mean I’m turning my back on the trans community. Outside my office I have several flags including the POW/MIA flag and the Progress Pride flag — because these are not incompatible values.”
The bill is awaiting final presidential approval.
