How the Federal NDAA Bill Affects Trans Children of Military Parents
The new NDAA bill, signed into law on Dec 23, 2024, limits your children's ability to get gender-affirming care if they are insured via TRICARE.
Over the next four years, it is clear that gender-affirming care and the basic rights of trans folks will be under attack. President-elect Trump recently announced plans to officially recognize only two genders, male and female, as U.S. policy starting his first day in office. He also pledged to sign executive orders prohibiting gender transition treatments for children, banning transgender individuals from the military, and removing transgender policies from schools.
Here is the language from Section 708 and 709 in that bill that will affect all children under 18 that are insured through TRICARE:
Section 708:
"Performance of sex change surgeries: restrictions - Restriction on use of funds: Funds available to the Department of Defense may not be used to perform or facilitate sex change surgeries. Restriction on use of facilities. No medical treatment facility or other facility of the Department of Defense may be used to perform or facilitate a sex change surgery."
Section 709:
"Prohibition of coverage under TRICARE program of certain medical procedures for children that could result in sterilization. Affirming hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and other 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."
If you are the parent of a trans child, you can get a membership to TZone that will give you access to every resource, lesson, and community forum you’ll need to support your child.
