President Joe Biden signed a massive $895 billion defense bill into law on Monday, bringing substantial pay raises for U.S. troops and reinforcing America's strategy against global threats like China. But the president didn’t hold back his frustration over one aspect of the legislation: a provision that bans transgender healthcare for children in military families.

“This unfairly targets people based on their gender identity,” Biden said, adding that it interferes with parents’ ability to decide what’s best for their children. For military families, who often face unique stresses, he said this creates an impossible choice. “No service member should have to decide between their family’s health care access and their call to serve our nation.”

Despite these objections, the bill passed both the House and Senate with broad bipartisan support. In the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson added the provision to ban transgender healthcare, most Democrats opposed the bill. Yet, the legislation passed overwhelmingly—281-140 in the House and 85-14 in the Senate—before reaching Biden's desk.

The annual National Defense Authorization Act is the backbone of U.S. defense policy. This year’s bill includes a 14.5% pay increase for junior enlisted members, the largest raise in decades, and a 4.5% boost for other service members. These changes aim to alleviate financial strain for military families who often struggle with the rising cost of living.

The bill also sharpens the Pentagon’s focus on China, establishing a new fund to support Taiwan’s defense efforts in much the same way the U.S. has provided military aid to Ukraine. Investments in cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and expanding domestic ammunition production highlight a commitment to staying ahead in an increasingly competitive global landscape.

Still, Biden had other reservations. He objected to restrictions on transferring detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. or certain foreign countries, calling for Congress to revisit the issue. He stressed the importance of aligning these policies with broader U.S. national security goals.

For military families, this bill brings relief and frustration. Pay raises and investments in the country’s defense bring tangible benefits, but the ban on transgender healthcare has sparked fears about fairness and the strain it could put on the armed forces. As Biden noted, decisions like these send a message about who is welcomed and supported in the military—and that debate is far from over.