House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) may find it difficult to achieve bipartisan support for the National Defense Authorization Act, as the House Rules Committee prepares to consider several controversial amendments that could derail Democrats from voting for the bill.
After approving only 300 of over 1,500 proposed amendments, committee members are set to meet on Thursday to determine which national defense authorization amendments should advance to the floor, setting up the possibility for a dayslong debate.
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Among the amendments are those covering hot-button topics in politics, including abortion, DEI (diversity equity, and inclusion), and foreign policy relations with China and Ukraine — all areas that Republicans want to restrict or dismantle and Democrats consider a "red line."
If McCarthy loses the support of the Democrats, the speaker will need every GOP vote in favor to pass the NDAA. However, some rank-and-file Republicans have already expressed they will vote "no" for the bill as-is.
Here are five controversial amendments that could push Democrats away and present obstacles for McCarthy to secure enough votes on the must-pass legislation.
Abortion
One of the most controversial amendments focuses on the Pentagon policy that allows service members to take up to three weeks of leave to travel out of state for an abortion and other “non-covered reproductive health care services.” The policy also states the Department of Defense will reimburse members for any expenses related to that travel.
Hard-line conservatives have blasted this policy as a tool of the Biden administration to advance its own agenda. Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) introduced the amendment to overturn the policy, earning nearly 50 Republican co-sponsors. GOP leaders are optimistic the amendment will reach the House floor for a vote, but Democratic leaders say the amendment could erode crucial support across the party.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Several amendments proposed by Republicans seek to eliminate Department of Defense policies that focus on DEI.
Reps. Eli Crane (R-TX), Bob Good (R-VA), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Mary Miller (R-IL), and Lauren Boebart (R-CO) introduced an amendment that prohibits the department from making it a requirement for members to participate in training or support for certain race-based concepts for hiring, promotion, or retention.
One amendment also eliminates any DEI offices and any personnel working for such offices within the Armed Forces and the DOD, and another prohibits the use of federal funds to create a chief diversity officer, senior advisers for diversity and inclusion, or any related positions.
Another amendment — introduced by Good, Crane, and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) — prohibits the use of funds for the DOD to promote the idea that "the US is a fundamentally racist country" or that "the Declaration of Independence or the US Constitution are racist documents," among others.
Republicans have claimed DEI efforts are distracting the Pentagon from military readiness, while Democrats argue the GOP is attempting to drive a wedge within the military and that ignoring problems of racism and bigotry will only create a worse problem.
COVID-19
Republicans proposed several changes to DOD policies that handle COVID-19 vaccinations and information.
One of the amendments focuses on prohibiting any "adverse" actions against cadets and midshipmen based on their COVID-19 vaccination status. Another amends service reinstatement and protection provisions for those who refused to be vaccinated to include members of the Coast Guard.
If passed, one amendment will prohibit any sort of mask mandate, and two others will require studies into the immune response levels and health conditions of service members following the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Transgender-related issues
Nine Republicans sponsored an amendment that prohibits TRICARE from covering, and the DOD from furnishing, sex reassignment surgeries and gender hormone treatments for transgender individuals.
Conservative lawmakers have long tried to regulate transgender people in the military, citing military readiness (similar to abortion) as their reason for doing so. Former President Donald Trump instituted a transgender military ban that the Supreme Court allowed to go into effect in 2019. The ban was repealed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
Foreign policy
Several of the amendments touch on U.S. relations with China, Ukraine, and Taiwan.
Some amendments that are likely to cause problems between the parties include striking $300 million in funding for Ukraine and prohibiting security assistance for Ukraine, as the country continues to fight a war against Russia.
China is also the focus of several amendments. Under one amendment, the secretary of defense is prohibited from supporting a film subject to censorship or content regulation from the Chinese Communist Party or the Chinese government. The manufacturing and distribution of Chinese goods at military exchanges would also be prohibited under another amendment.
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Two amendments introduced by Reps. Scott Perry (R-PA) and Crane would prohibit the use of funds to refer to Taiwan as anything other than "Taiwan" and prohibit the use of funds to forbid active duty military officers of Taiwan from wearing their uniforms during visits to the United States.
These amendments come as relations between China and the U.S. remain on thin ice. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently visited Beijing for his position's first meeting in five years, which Republicans have said is proof that the Biden administration is growing soft on China. Blinken also said that the U.S. did not support Taiwan's independence, which drew heavy criticism from the GOP.