GRAND FORKS — The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has ushered in significant new provisions aimed at enhancing mental health care access for military personnel, particularly those involved with drone operations. Signed by President Joe Biden, the NDAA was passed with divided votes reflecting both support and criticism among law lawmakers.
North Dakota Senators, John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, have been vocal proponents of the bill, emphasizing its importance for service members. Key provisions include the establishment of counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) task forces and expanded mental health care options for military members, especially pilots of U.S. combat drones.
Recent reports of drone incursions over military installations have heightened concerns. Incidents were reported at U.S. bases overseas as well as sightings of drones across eastern states. According to Hoeven, this NDAA “helps formalize what (the Defense Department) is already doing” to address these drone incursions.
The counter-UAS task force is part of Project ULTRA, focusing on logistics and research for unmanned aerial systems, aiming to bolster national security. Hoeven highlighted Grand Forks’ unique position as “the tip of the spear against China,” indicating the region’s leading role in drone development and countermeasures.
Senator Cramer has taken significant strides to promote mental health resources within the military, noting the challenges posed by stringent TRICARE standards—military health insurance—that hinder access to certified providers. “The standards to join TRICARE are so stringent now,” he remarked, and he feels this is especially acute for states like North Dakota.
Referring to tragic incidents, including suicides at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, Cramer is advocating for enhanced mental health care access. He also introduced provisions for combat status identifiers specific to drone pilots, aiming to recognize their unique challenges related to PTSD and mental health complications from combat situations.
This year's NDAA allocates $1.9 million for maintenance planning on the runway of the Grand Forks Air Force Base, which Cramer has championed, and allows the Space Development Agency's mission reauthorization—notably, the Operations Center North established at the base.
Additional provisions target updates for helicopter use by the North Dakota National Guard and modernization efforts for Minot Air Force Base's nuclear capabilities. It's important to note, according to Hoeven, authorization alone does not allocate funding, meaning subsequent appropriations will be necessary for funding projects included in the NDAA.
The NDAA's passage typically garners significant bipartisan support. This year, debates flared over amendments introduced by House Speaker Mike Johnson, particularly concerning gender-affirming care for transgender service members’ children. The amendment, backed by Hoeven and Cramer, restricts TRICARE coverage for certain gender-affirming treatments.
Cramer and Hoeven framed these restrictions as necessary for maintaining military readiness, describing the provision of gender-affirming care as potentially detrimental to service members. Cramer opined, “We need them to be healthy, we need them to be ready for war,” downplaying concerns about the mental health consequences associated with denying such care.
Despite significant pushback from House Democrats over Johnson's amendment, the NDAA was passed with the Senate voting 85-15, albeit with less than half of House Democrats supporting it. Critics within Congress expressed concern over what they described as a politicization of service member care, but Hoeven expressed hope for continued bipartisan collaboration on military issues moving forward.
The NDAA’s framework leads to funding discussions, as current federal operations are flowing under last year’s funding levels, emphasized by the need for Congress to pass the defense appropriations bill or enact another continuing resolution by March. Cramer asserts the NDAA remains consistent with its legacy of fostering military readiness, stating, “I wouldn’t read a whole lot” from dissenting voices, indicating the bill’s historical trend of passage.
For many lawmakers, this year's NDAA depicts the continual evolution of military administrative policies to respond to modern threats and the mental health crisis facing service members. With discussions around mental health support, drone incursions, and controversial amendments indicating changing dynamics, the defense authorization is poised to reshape policies affecting those who serve.
With the political atmosphere shifting and recent personnel challenges prompting urgent responses, how these provisions will positively impact military operations and the mental health of service members remains to be seen.
