The annual defense bill directing $895 billion toward the Pentagon and other military programs would deny transgender health coverage to minors. It now heads to President Biden’s desk.

The Senate on Wednesday voted to pass the $895 billion Defense authorization bill, despite a provision on transgender care that turned off some Democrats, moving it along to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

The Senate gave the green light to the Pentagon’s mammoth $895 billion annual budget Tuesday despite a row over provisions prohibiting the use of those funds to provide transgender surgeries

The Senate voted on Wednesday to pass a critical defense policy bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a ban against gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members – a provision pushed by Republicans that sparked anger from Democrats.

The defense authorization bill, which directs Pentagon policy, provides a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others.

President Joe Biden on Monday signed his last defense appropriation bill despite objections that the bill banned funding for providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth through the military's health insurance provider Tricare.

Outgoing US president Joe Biden has signed in law a defence bill that will increase military salaries and overall spending but contains a controversial provision to restrict gender-affirming care access for the trans children of members of the armed services.