Congress moves closer to finalizing a crucial piece of legislation that shapes the future of U.S. military policies and spending.
According to Fox News, the Senate has voted 85-14 to pass the $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes restrictions on transgender care for military dependents and significant pay raises for service members.
The bipartisan legislation represents a 1% increase from last year's defense budget and focuses heavily on improving service members' quality of life amid recruitment challenges. The bill introduces a 14.5% pay increase for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% across-the-board raise for all military personnel starting January 1, with civilian Department of Defense employees receiving a 2% increase.
The NDAA's most controversial provision prohibits the military healthcare provider Tricare from covering transgender care that could result in sterilization for dependents under 18.
This restriction sparked significant opposition from Democratic lawmakers, with Senator Tammy Baldwin leading 21 colleagues in an unsuccessful attempt to remove the provision.
The legislation notably excludes several stricter measures that were initially proposed in the House version, including a blanket ban on funding for adult gender transition surgeries and mask mandates for disease prevention. Additionally, the bill maintains the Pentagon's policy of reimbursing service members who travel out of state for abortion services.
Democratic leaders, while expressing concerns about the transgender care restrictions, ultimately supported the bill due to its crucial defense provisions. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer acknowledged the compromise nature of the legislation.
The NDAA includes significant provisions targeting Chinese-made drones, particularly those manufactured by DJI and Autel Robotics. The legislation mandates a national security assessment of these companies within one year, with automatic placement on the Federal Communications Commission's "covered lists" if no evaluation is completed.
The bill allocates $20 million for counter-unmanned aerial systems development and establishes a specialized task force to address drone-related security concerns. These measures reflect growing concerns about foreign surveillance and drone incursions near military installations.
Speaker Mike Johnson highlighted the bill's cost-saving measures, noting $31 billion in reductions through cuts to "inefficient programs, obsolete weapons, and bloated Pentagon bureaucracy." The legislation also extends a hiring freeze on DEI-related positions pending an investigation of Pentagon diversity programs.
The passage of this comprehensive defense policy bill marks a significant milestone, though actual funding will require separate spending legislation in the next Congress. The bill received stronger bipartisan support in the Senate compared to the House, where it passed 281-140 with notable Democratic opposition.
The NDAA addresses various other military concerns, including provisions for National Guard deployment at the southern border and potential changes to Air Force grooming standards. It also maintains current IVF coverage policies, limiting access to service members whose infertility is connected to service-related conditions.
The bill now awaits President Biden's signature to become law, representing a crucial step in defining American military policy and personnel support for the coming year. Despite controversies surrounding certain provisions, the legislation's passage demonstrates Congress's ability to reach a compromise on essential defense matters.
