House Adopts Amendments to Ban Transgender Procedures in Military, Repeal Abortion Travel Policy

The Epoch Times Header

Passage of ‘culture war’ amendments to defense bill ensures showdown at final vote

House conservatives are bundling the nationโ€™s defense budget with โ€œculture warโ€ amendments they say are needed to reverse the Biden administrationโ€™s โ€œwokeโ€ politicization of the military through โ€œradical race theoriesโ€ instituted in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

In the span of 10 hours on July 13, the Republican-led House repealed the Department of Defenseโ€™s (DODโ€™s) abortion travel policy, prohibited DOD health care programs from providing gender transition procedures, and introduced a host of other proposed add-ons targeting DEI programsโ€”including several that failedโ€”to a must-pass defense budget normally approved in bipartisan accord.

Democrats resisted fiercely, contending the nationโ€™s defense budget is being held hostage by a relatively small cadreโ€”the 40-member House Freedom Caucusโ€”manipulating its pivot in sustaining the GOPโ€™s narrow 10-seat chamber majority to impose an โ€œextreme right-wing agendaโ€ onto the Pentagon and, eventually, the nation.

That was the nub of repeatedโ€”and often heatedโ€”point-counterpoint exchanges during daylong deliberations on the House floor as the proposed $886.3 Fiscal Year 2024 defense budget, referred to as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), was introduced for adoption with 370 proposed amendments.

80 Hot-Button Amendments

Both House and Senate armed forces adopted their versions of the proposed NDAA last month. The House did so in a 58โ€“1 vote and the Senate 24โ€“1.

The annual defense budget is geared to be implemented when the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1. The House is expected to formally adopt the NDAA by July 14 when it resumes deliberations at 10:30 a.m. after adjourning around 11:30 p.m. on July 13.

Both chambersโ€™ defense spending plans top out at the $886.3 billion requested in March by the Biden administration, but the Senate version of the NDAAโ€”which will be introduced on the Democrat-led chamber floor next weekโ€”does not include the amendments in the House version targeting โ€œwokeโ€ policies.

Representatives in early afternoon began sorting through 80 proposed NDAA amendments dispatched to the floor by the House Rules Committee that morning. The day before, the panel had forwarded 290 proposed add-ons โ€œen blanc,โ€ meaning many are packaged for composite votes because they are not contentious.

Byย John Haughey

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Columns

Viewers like you

There is no constitutional authority for any spending on public broadcasting โ€“ period. Any questions: See Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

Beyond the Trump-Musk fallout?

We are witnessing an unprecedented, unhinged Democrat effort to use lawfare, big Democrat donors, street theater, congressional disruptions, potty-mouth videos, the administrative state, the legacy media, and discredited pollsters to stop the Trump agenda.

Trans-wormal

No worm ever said "I am anthropomorphizing, I am a butterfly" to a toad or flock of geese and expected acknowledgement and support.

In Greenlandโ€™s Icy Capital, Past Troubles Haunt Hopes for the Future

As geopolitical realities and ongoing economic growth raise the stakes, U.S. interest in Greenland and the dream of independence may change things in a big way.

How a Chinese Government Statistician Was Forced to Report Fake Data

Chinese local govt employee produced a non-authorized report on bees and was visited by police and threatened with being sent to a mental hospital.

News

Supreme Court Sides With DOGE in Social Security, Records Cases

The Supreme Court handed DOGE two big wins late on June 6 in its effort to reduce the size of the federal government.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Returns to US to Face Criminal Charges

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a citizen of El Salvador, is on his way back to the US, where he will face criminal charges for allegedly smuggling illegal immigrants.

White House Adviser Gives Update on DOGEโ€™s Future Amid Muskโ€“Trump Spat

A top White House adviser said DOGEโ€™s work will likely continue amid a spat between its former chief, Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump.

Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow Dismantling of Education Department

Trump admin asked Supreme Court to allow it to resume dismantling U.S. Dept of Education, following a lower courtโ€™s previous order halting process.

FTC Warns of Rising Student Loan Scams, Says Fraudsters Took Millions From Borrowers

FTC is warning borrowers to steer clear of student loan debt-relief scams, after shutting down group of companies that allegedly charged millions in illegal fees and left customers worse off.

Walmartโ€™s Drone Delivery Coming to 5 More US Cities

Walmart is set to launch its drone delivery service in five more U.S. cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa, the company.

Court Orders Trump Administration to Restore AmeriCorps Funding to States

Federal court ordered Trump admin to restore AmeriCorps funding to states. The ruling comes as part of a lawsuit filed by 24 states and DC.

Tax Deductions You Can Take Without Itemizing

Itโ€™s not always beneficial to itemize. With IRSโ€™s current standard deduction for 2025 most Americans who canโ€™t itemize go with standard deduction.
spot_img

Related Articles