On Wednesday, Dec. 11, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the latest National Defense Authorization Act.The defense spending bill for 2025, which included a provision that would ban gender-affirming care for children of military service members, passed by a margin of 281 to 140, including support from 81 Democrats.Section 708 of the bill, titled Prohibition of coverage under Tricare program of certain medical procedures for children that could result in sterilization, states: 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.The House bill rolled back some of the original language in the Senate version, which included a ban on Tricare or government funds being used for gender-affirmation surgery for adults, stating: No medical treatment facility or other facility of the Department of Defense may be used to perform or facilitate a sex change surgery.The bill has had many detractors, including Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), who addressed the provision on the House floor. Smith referred to the provision as a partisan wedge issue and said it is denying health care to minors who clearly need it.Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) also spoke out against the provision, echoing Smiths words and calling the provision right-wing extremist dogma.If we ignore extremism now, the next time there will be another group attacked, then another and another until eventually no one will be left to defend you when you need it, said Pocan.Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released a statement about the NDAA saying: I will not support any bill that includes hateful, divisive language targeting transgender dependents of service members. The eleventh-hour addition by Speaker Johnson is not only intentionally hostile; its also dangerously vague, opening the door for future administrations to further target vulnerable children.Allen Morris, policy director of the National LGBTQ Task Force, released a statement regarding the passing of the NDAA. We are deeply disappointed with the recent House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), said Morris. LGBTQ organizations and advocates have consistently pushed back on anti-LGBTQ amendments or riders and expressed our concerns about our trans siblings being used as leverage for political purposes at the expense of their health, safety, and rights.Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson also issued a statement following the vote.Military servicemembers and their families wake up every day and sacrifice more than most of us will ever understand, said Robinson. Those families protect our right to live freely and with dignity they deserve that same right, and the freedom to access the care their children need. Today, politicians in the House betrayed our nations promise to those who serve. Not since the Defense of Marriage Act passed almost 30 years ago has an anti-LGBTQ+ policy been enshrined into federal law. For the thousands of families impacted, this isnt about politics. Its about young people who deserve our support.The post Lawmakers approve defense bill restricting gender-affirming care for military families appeared first on News Is Out.