(DailyVantage.com) – Congress has taken a decisive step to block taxpayer funding for gender transition surgeries for children covered under Tricare, the military’s health care program. This measure, outlined in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), prohibits procedures that could lead to sterilization for minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria.
Section 708 of the nearly 2,000-page NDAA specifies: “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.” This provision represents a broader effort by conservatives to counter gender transition procedures for minors.
House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the inclusion of this provision, calling it a vital measure to safeguard children. “Taxpayer dollars should never be used to support procedures and treatments that could permanently harm and sterilize young people,” Johnson told The Daily Wire. He further pledged continued action by House Republicans to protect children across the nation.
The provision’s survival in the final legislation was uncertain during negotiations between Republicans and Democrats. Initially introduced this summer, it faced potential removal during bipartisan talks. The final bill reflects increasing tension and debate between lawmakers on how gender-related policies should be addressed at the federal level.
This legislative move coincides with broader efforts to curtail gender transition procedures for minors. Recently, the Supreme Court heard arguments regarding Tennessee’s law banning such interventions for children. Supporters of the law, including Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS), view Tennessee’s approach as a model for national policy. Marshall has introduced a federal bill aiming to prohibit irreversible transgender procedures for minors nationwide.
The debate around these measures reflects a larger cultural and political clash over gender identity and the role of government in regulating medical treatments for children. Critics argue that such laws infringe on personal rights and deny necessary care for transgender youth. Proponents contend that these measures prioritize protecting children from irreversible medical harm.
With the NDAA provision now cemented in law, the federal government has made its stance clear: taxpayer funds will no longer support gender transition procedures for children in military families. As the debate continues, this decision marks a significant victory for those advocating stricter limits on gender-affirming care.
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