The bald eagle, a symbol of the power and strength of the United States for more than 240 years, earned an overdue honor on Tuesday: It officially became the country’s national bird.

The National Defense Authorization Act has a provision barring the military's insurance from covering gender-affirming care for service members' children.

The bird has been a national emblem in the US for years, but it never had an official status in the country's 248-year history.