Society: Controversial Changes: Dispute over US defense budget

The passage of the annual defense budget bill threatens to become a bone of contention in the US over societal issues such as abortion and trans rights. The Republican-led House of Representatives passed some controversial amendments that could jeopardize passage of the important package from Congress. The budget finally passed the House of Representatives on Friday.

Republicans have a slim majority there. There are numerous ultra-right members of the parliamentary group, who regularly push the Republican chairman of the chamber, Kevin McCarthy, with radical demands. It is considered impossible that the package in this form will pass the Senate, where US President Joe Biden’s Democrats have a majority.

abortions and trans rights

Republicans want the Pentagon to stop paying military personnel for longer trips to abortion clinics. Just over a year ago, the country’s Supreme Court overturned the right to abortion in the United States – since then, abortions have been largely banned in a number of US states. Another passed amendment barred a Pentagon health program from paying for gender reassignment treatments for trans people.

Republicans also voted to eliminate a Department of Defense department designed to ensure diversity within the military. “I believe that diversity, inclusion and equality are important in the United States military,” said National Security Council communications director at the White House John Kirby. “We are a diverse force because we represent and defend the entire United States, all Americans.”

The so-called NDAA is one of the most important legislative packages and usually receives bipartisan support. The current package envisages spending of 886 billion US dollars (around 788 billion euros) for the Ministry of Defence.