Biden Signs Military Spending Bill, Voices Concerns on Transgender Health Care

President Joe Biden recently signed a defense bill into law, approving a significant increase in military spending and pay raises for junior enlisted members. The bill, totaling $895 billion, aims to counter China's influence and boost military capabilities. However, Biden expressed strong opposition to a provision in the bill that strips coverage for transgender medical treatments for children in military families. He argued that this provision unfairly targets individuals based on their gender identity and interferes with parents' decisions regarding their children's health care. Additionally, Biden believes this provision could hinder the military's ability to recruit and retain talent. The bill was passed by the Senate with a vote of 85-14 and by the House with a vote of 281-140. Many Democrats in the House voted against the bill due to the controversial provision added by House Speaker Mike Johnson. Biden also raised concerns about other language in the bill that restricts the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay to certain countries and the U. S. The defense bill includes a 14. 5% pay raise for junior enlisted members and a 4. 5% increase for others. It also directs resources towards a more confrontational approach to China, including a fund for military resources to Taiwan. The bill invests in new military technologies and bolsters ammunition production. Furthermore, it extends the ban on military purchases of Chinese products, covering items from garlic to drone technology.