The Senate and the House overwhelmingly passed the compromise $886 billion defense budget for 2024. The bill, which was approved by the Senate on Thursday, Dec. 14, was notably void of major social issue provisions sought by some Republicans, such as those on abortion and gender identity.
The bill allows the Pentagon to pay for travel and time off for service members to obtain abortions and gender-affirming health care. Both of those provisions were blocked in the House version of the bill, but when House and Senate negotiators met, concessions were made to remove those restrictions, and the majority of Republicans in both chambers voted for the final bill.
Here’s what Republicans got in return:
In 2021, President Biden issued an executive order mandating the establishment of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices across all military branches to promote equity within the military. However, the 2024 defense budget will impose a hiring freeze on these DEI offices, and there will be a salary cap for employees working in these departments.
The defense bill incorporates language backed by Republicans, specifically stating that it “prohibits the promotion of critical race theory.”
Additionally, LGBTQ pride flags will not be allowed to be displayed outside military bases – along with any other unapproved flags.
Other sentiments inside the bill that satisfy conservatives are policies that will require the government to find use for border wall materials that have been stored for years.
The budget also permits the hiring of a “special inspector general” to enhance oversight of the tens of billions of dollars sent to Ukraine. The hiring of that position is seen as a win for Republicans in the defense bill negotiations.
Republicans pointed to a lack of transparency as reason for upholding a separate $110 billion aid package. The majority of that money is set aside for Ukraine.
While the majority of Republicans voted with Democrats to approve the defense budget, GOP members are receiving criticism from their own party for conceding to “woke” military policies.
