NWLC Condemns Harmful Anti-Transgender Rider in the NDAA
December 9, 2024 – The fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes an anti-trans provision that would cut off access to basic, essential medical care for transgender military family members.
In response, Jackii Wang, senior legislative analyst at the National Women’s Law Center, issued the following statement:
“Adding language to the NDAA that targets care for transgender people reflects a direct attack on the transgender community. It also creates a dangerous precedent for broader national-level assaults and bans on necessary health care. Coming on the heels of the Supreme Court oral arguments regarding Tennessee’s harsh ban on health care for trans youth, this provision is part of an ongoing pattern of attacks on the dignity of young transgender people.
While the NDAA contains an important fix that would help eliminate cost barriers to contraception for military families, the anti-trans provision in the NDAA is baseless, cruel, and inherently discriminatory. Congress should focus on protecting our health, rights, and freedoms rather than enacting laws intended to control, dehumanize, and erase transgender people. Everyone, including military service members and their loved ones, deserves access to the health care they need. We urge members of Congress to vote “NO” on the final NDAA bill if this provision is included.”