NWLC on Senate Passage of NDAA with Anti-Trans Measure

Washington, DC — Today, the Senate voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which now heads to the president’s desk. 

This year’s NDAA includes a harmful provision targeting essential medical care for transgender military family members. The bill also includes an important measure that the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) has long pushed to ensure that service members can access no-cost birth control just as most civilians can thanks to the Affordable Care Act.  

Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of NWLC, issued the following statement: 

“We have finally secured no-cost birth control access for service members in this year’s defense bill, thanks to the many champions in Congress and military families who have long demanded the same access to contraception as civilians. But we cannot celebrate today. 

“It is a stain on this legislation and our country that the same bill includes measures that target transgender youth and their families. The lawmakers who pushed for this measure are the same ones who don’t trust women and pregnant people to make their own health care decisions. And now, they’re telling service members the same thing. These attacks are all part of their playbook to restrict our freedoms and force us to conform to their narrow and outdated stereotypes about gender.  

“We know that gender-affirming care is medically necessary for many young trans people, including those already facing challenges associated with frequent moves and deployed parents. Our military families deserve so much better than this, and we are disappointed that the Senate voted to pass this package. We urge President Biden to veto the NDAA and support military families who will be harmed by this provision.

“And to all the trans kids out there, I want you to know that we see you, we know your worth, and we will never stop fighting these attacks to take away your basic freedoms.” 

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