Equality Caucus Denounces Speaker Johnson’s Trans Care Ban in NDAA Becoming Law

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, released the following statement after the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025—which contained a ban on medically necessary care for servicemembers’ transgender dependents—was signed into law:

“Today, Speaker Johnson got one of his top priorities signed into law. Not something to curb the rising cost of groceries—no, it was a restriction on necessary medical care for the children of those serving our nation,” said Rep. Mark Pocan, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. “The Equality Caucus remains committed to repealing this provision and ensuring that patients and providers can make necessary medical decisions without government interference.”

BACKGROUND
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 includes a provision (Sec. 708) that would result in TRICARE no longer offering gender-affirming care to servicemembers’ transgender children under 18. The same treatments would still be allowed for cisgender children under 18.

Servicemembers deserve to be able to provide their transgender children with the healthcare necessary to promote their children’s health and wellbeing. Every major medical and mental health association in the U.S., representing more than 1.3 million U.S. doctors, supports providing this medically necessary, evidence-based care for transgender people. This includes the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Endocrine Society, among other organizations.