Defence bill passes: Biden signs law with $895 billion budget

President Joe Biden signed a defence bill into law on December 23.

The bill approves significant pay raises for junior enlisted service members, boosts overall military spending to $895 billion, and strengthens US efforts to counter China’s rising influence, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

However, Biden voiced strong opposition to certain provisions in the bill, particularly one that strips coverage for transgender medical treatments for children in military families.

While Biden acknowledged the bill’s positive provisions, such as a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted troops, he expressed concern over the inclusion of a measure targeting transgender healthcare. "This provision unfairly targets a group based on gender identity and interferes with parents’ ability to make decisions about their children’s care," the president said in a statement. He also emphasized that the provision could harm the military’s ability to recruit and retain top talent, adding, "No service member should have to decide between their family’s healthcare access and their call to serve our nation."

The bill passed the Senate last week with broad bipartisan support, by a vote of 85-14. However, the legislation faced significant opposition in the House, where most Democrats voted against it, citing the controversial provision banning transgender medical care for children in military families. Despite this, the bill passed the House by a vote of 281-140.

In addition to the transgender healthcare provision, Biden raised objections to other parts of the bill, including restrictions on the use of funds to transfer detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to foreign countries or to the US mainland. The president urged Congress to lift these restrictions, calling them counterproductive to broader national security objectives.

Beyond these concerns, the defence bill allocates resources to address growing threats, particularly from China. It includes provisions for a new fund aimed at sending military support to Taiwan, similar to the assistance provided to Ukraine, and supports investments in emerging military technologies like artificial intelligence. The bill also focuses on increasing U.S. ammunition production and extending efforts to limit military purchases of Chinese-made goods, including a ban on Chinese products ranging from garlic in military commissaries to critical technologies like drones.

Although Biden signed the bill into law, it still requires a spending package to fully implement these directives. The legislation reflects ongoing efforts to bolster US military capabilities while grappling with contentious social issues and international security challenges.

By Tamilla Hasanova