House GOP Uses Must-Pass Defense Bill To Strip Care From Military Families’ Trans Kids

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON — House Republicans have tucked a provision into a must-pass defense bill that would strip health care from military families’ transgender kids, putting parents in a position of having to choose between their careers in the military and providing medically necessary health care for their loved ones. It’s just one sentence: “Medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization may not be provided to a child under the age of 18.” House Republicans tucked a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that would strip health care coverage for military families' trans kids. Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday that he’s “proud” of the NDAA bill and specifically pointed to its provision that blocks TRICARE, the military’s health care program, from covering the costs of gender-affirming health care for servicemembers’ kids. “I don’t understand why we’re even having this discussion.” Speaker Mike Johnson says he's "proud" of the GOP's National Defense Authorization Act that includes a provision stripping military families' trans kids of their health care coverage.