House GOP targets Pride Month in defense bill.
House Republicans are gearing up to use this year’s crucial defense policy bill as a platform to counteract progressive Biden administration policies regarding diversity, LGBTQ representation, and gender ideology. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of fiscal year 2025 has seen more than 1,300 amendments proposed, outlining priorities for the Pentagon and national security-related measures in the Department of Energy.
Amid these amendments are approximately 10 proposals aimed at Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the Pentagon. Some of these amendments target eliminating key diversity offices within the department, such as the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, along with their staff.
One standout measure put forth by Reps. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., and Jim Banks, R-Ind., seeks to prevent U.S. service academies from using federal funds to establish DEI offices. Additionally, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., has submitted a broad initiative to block any NDAA-funded allocations towards DEI programs, offices, or personnel.
The current NDAA text in the House includes a provision designed to prevent Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin from forming a DEI-related committee or group for Pentagon-funded schools. On the other hand, a Democrat-led amendment by Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, has been introduced to challenge this policy.
The House Rules Committee, serving as the final checkpoint for legislation before being considered by the entire chamber, is set to review the NDAA on Tuesday. This paves the way for a mid-June House vote, which coincides with Pride Month, a period that has captured the attention of House Republicans.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., has introduced two separate amendments related to Pride Month. One proposal seeks to prohibit the use of federal funds for Pride Month celebrations or teachings within Pentagon-run schools, while the other demands a report from Austin comparing taxpayer dollars spent on Pride Month celebrations within the department to those allocated for Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Furthermore, House Republicans have put forward at least five amendments to prevent federal funding from supporting transgender surgeries and other gender-affirming care. Notable among these is an amendment by Banks and Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., aiming to halt military reassignments if the basis is a service member or relative seeking trans medical care.
Additional proposed amendments target the exclusion of materials promoting “radical gender ideology” in Pentagon-run schools.
It remains uncertain as to how many of these amendments will be subject to a vote on the House floor, with the House Rules Committee deciding their fate during their upcoming meeting. However, it is improbable that these culturally charged measures will garner any Democratic backing.
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the leading Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, recently released a statement urging Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to steer clear of adding “poison pills or partisan riders” before the NDAA is presented on the House floor.
“I urge Speaker Johnson to reject all attempts to politicize and weaponize the committee-passed defense bill and honor the long-held bipartisan traditions of the House Armed Services Committee when he brings the NDAA to the House floor next week,” Smith emphasized.
For more updates, follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
