House Armed Services Committee chairman U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) was reportedly unhappy that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) did not consult him before adding a provision from the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) banning so-called gender-affirming care for minors.
According to the Hill, Rogers was not ultimately opposed to removing the policy. Rather, he thought tying up the NDAA with a hot-button cultural issue was gratuitous with the nigh-return of President-elect Donald Trump.
"[Trump] is going to stop all these social, cultural issues from being embedded as policies. So my point is, I don't know why this is in the bill when Jan. 20, it's a moot point," Rogers was reported saying Tuesday.
He continued, "My preference would have been that we just let the president, on Jan. 20, deal with these, which he's already indicated he's going to do."
When asked if Johnson had consulted Rogers about removing the provision, Rogers claimed he had not.
Johnson touted the provision that applies to TRICARE, the health care program for service members, that 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 is slated to vote on the NDAA on Wednesday before sending it to the Senate for deliberation. Rogers said the House typically passes the NDAA in a nonpartisan fashion. However, he suggested Johnson's provision would make the vote "close."
House Armed Services Committee ranking member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said he would vote against the NDAA over the transgender health care provision.
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