Republicans PASS $886 billion defense spending bill
Republicans PASS $886 billion ‘anti-woke’ defense spending bill that restricts access to abortion for troops, funding for transgender medical care and diversity and inclusion initiatives
- The House passed the vote 219 to 210 to spark a showdown in the Senate
- GOP included amendments about restricting access to abortion by troops
- Also set limits on diversity and inclusion considerations in recruiting and funding for transgender care
Republicans in Congress have passed a defense bill restricting access to abortion for troops and limiting transgender care for military personnel.
The House passed the vote 219 to 210 to spark a showdown in the Senate over the amendments, which include banning military enlistment to consider diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI).
The National Defense Authorization Act sets policy for the Department of Defense for the year, and is mostly routine and widely supported by both parties.
Republicans included several amendments on social issues as part of their effort to get rid of the “woke” policy in the military.
Four Democrats voted for the bill — Representatives Don Davis, NC, Jared Golden, Maine, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Washington, and Representative Gabriel Vazquez, NM. Four Republicans — Ken Buck, Andy Biggs, Eli Crane, and Thomas Massive — voted against.
An amendment from Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, to ban the Pentagon from helping pay for travel for abortion services has passed the House. So was a ban that would prohibit military health care from paying for gender reassignment surgeries.
An amendment to ban was passed – but an amendment to ban all DEI training in the military failed.
Some far-right amendments — one by Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to ban funding for diversity, justice, and inclusion (DEI) training, one by Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to ban sending cluster munitions into Ukraine and one from Rep. Bob Good to allow Pentagon facilities to keep the names of Confederate generals – were turned down.
Still, most right-wing members of the conference voted in favor of the bill. The Freedom Caucus and those aligned with it have been a wild card for Chairman Kevin McCarthy’s battle of votes over the legislation to pass.
Republicans in Congress passed a defense bill restricting access to abortion for troops and limiting transgender care for military personnel
The original, unaltered NDAA had gone from the armed forces in a wide two-way show: 58-1. Democrats attacked Republicans for politicizing the bill during the amendment process.
But the bill included a five percent pay increase for military personnel — so four Democrats from moderate districts voted for it.
The spending bill will likely be watered down in the Democrat-led Senate — making way for more House Democrats — and fewer House Republicans — to vote in favor of the final bill.