US House passes massive defense policy bill, despite transgender provision

[Jessica_Rose]

US House passes massive defense policy bill, despite transgender provision

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-house-passes-massive-defense-policy-bill-despite-transgender-provision/ar-AA1vHcOw?ocid=windirect&cvid=c058e24b6bd742949d608acf358ca884&ei=39

Story by Patricia Zengerle (11 Dec 2024)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. House of Representatives passed a defense policy bill on Wednesday, governing a record $895 billion in annual military spending, despite inclusion of a controversial policy targeting gender-affirming care for transgender children.

The bill bans the military health program, TRICARE, from covering gender-affirming care for the transgender children of service members if it could risk sterilization.

Including the provision in the bill, which sets policy for the Department of Defense, underscored how much attention transgender issues have gotten in U.S. politics and indicated Republicans plan to continue to highlight the politically polarizing topic.

[Lori Dee]