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The House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bill with 219 votes.after several hours of debate and the adoption of anti-abortion amendments and LGBTQ military elements.
The addition of the amendments were pushed by the most conservative Republicanss, championed by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (California).
The bill proposes a budget of $886,000 million dollars for the armed forcesa plan that had been supported by Democrats in the Armed Services Committee, but later lost that support to conservative motions.
Among the adjustments is a provision eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs and staff at the Department of Defense.
The amendments seek limit women in the military to abortionIn addition to the Army cracking down on racial initiatives, efforts to provide care for transgender people are also being limited.
All these policies tie in with the campaign towards the 2024 elections that various Republicans are promoting against abortion, critical theory on racism and their position towards the LGBTQ community, especially transgender people.
The law must wait a turn in the Senate, where Democrats have control and it is difficult to advance, but it marks a new political battlefront against Republicans.
Democrats rejected the NDAA bill and accused the MAGA Republicans of imposing their agenda.
“Historically, the National Defense Authorization Act has helped ensure that our military has the resources they need to keep us safe and that military families have access to the benefits they have earned and deserve,” said the representative. Linda Sanchez (California). “Unfortunately, the MAGA Republicans hijacked this year’s NDAA and attached extreme amendments that made the bill something I couldn’t support.”
Sánchez said that the NDAA is an “anti-woman, anti-health, anti-diversity and anti-LGBTQI+” project.