President Joe Biden signed a defense bill into law that authorizes pay raises for junior enlisted service members, boosts military spending to $895 billion, and aims to counter China’s growing power. Despite his objections to provisions targeting transgender medical treatments for children in military families, the bill was passed by both the Senate and the House. Biden argued that the provision interfered with parents’ ability to determine the best care for their children and could affect recruitment and retention in the military.
The bill includes a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others, as well as provisions to confront China and invest in new technologies like artificial intelligence and ammunition production. It also prohibits the use of funds to transfer detainees from Guantánamo Bay and extends bans on purchasing Chinese products for the military.
While the defense authorization bill has passed, it still requires a spending package to fully implement its provisions. Biden urged Congress to lift restrictions on transferring detainees from Guantánamo Bay and warned against provisions that could limit access to transgender medical care for children in military families. The bill signals a shift towards a more confrontational approach to China and an investment in advanced military technologies to maintain U.S. military superiority.
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