While these amendments make up only a small portion of the 800 proposed amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, they are expected to be significant points of contention in the ongoing partisan debate over Pentagon policies under President Biden.
One of the proposed amendments, put forth by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, seeks to disqualify individuals who identify as transgender and have undergone gender reassignment surgery from military service. It also aims to disqualify those with a diagnosed history of gender dysphoria.
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However, there are exceptions included in the legislation, such as allowing individuals who have been "stable in their biological sex 36 months prior to joining the military" and permitting service members who are already in the military and stable in their biological sex to continue serving.
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Another amendment, proposed by Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina, aims to prohibit military benefits from covering gender dysphoria treatments for family members of active duty service members. This prohibition would extend to hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and other medical treatments for children that could potentially result in sterilization.
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Democrats argue that these restrictions are discriminatory and could discourage individuals from enlisting in the military, which is already facing recruitment challenges. When questioned about why Democrats support the Department of Defense funding transgender-related medical services, Senator Tim Kaine explained that a fellow senator had made a compelling case about a family member who relied on military benefits to receive sex-change treatments. Kaine emphasized the importance of equity, stating that denying service members access to care that is available to civilians creates an inherent inequity.
Senator Steve Daines of Montana has proposed an amendment that would ban "adult cabaret performances" on Department of Defense-owned properties. This would include drag shows, topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dances, and strippers. Daines cited a drag show performance for children at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana as the motivation behind this amendment, arguing that such performances project weakness to other nations.
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These amendments align with the version of the NDAA passed by the Republican-controlled House on July 14. However, they face strong opposition from Democrats who view transgender equality as a non-negotiable issue. As the House and Senate convene in a conference committee later this year to reconcile the differences between their versions of the bill, these policies are expected to be contentious topics.
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, has urged lawmakers to avoid introducing "potentially toxic" amendments that could derail the passage of the bill. He emphasized the need for input from both sides but cautioned against causing chaos, as was witnessed during the House's NDAA process.
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