House GOP’s Culture War Amendments Could Delay Defense Bill

A House Democrat criticized Republicans for adding culture war amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that are likely to be rejected by the Democrat-controlled Senate.

One such amendment aims to prevent service members from being reimbursed for abortion-related expenses, sparking controversy and a filibuster campaign by Sen. Tommy Tuberville. Other amendments target funding for gender transition procedures, President Joe Biden’s climate change executive orders, and events like drag shows and drag queen story hours.

Additional amendments call for a hiring freeze on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) positions in the Pentagon, the elimination of DEI offices, the Pentagon’s Chief Diversity Officer position, and similar roles. The House will vote this week on whether to include these amendments in the NDAA for the 2025 fiscal year.

Despite bipartisan support for the NDAA, Democrats are unlikely to support amendments that contradict their agenda, leading to division within the Republican party over potential opposition from moderate members. Some lawmakers argue that these amendments align with cultural priorities and aim to restore traditional practices within the military.

While some socially conservative amendments were signed into law last year, others, including those related to DEI, abortion, and transgender surgery, did not make it into the final version. The legislation also includes provisions for a pay raise for troops and measures to restrict “critical race theory” at military academies.