House passes $883 billion defense spending bill with abortion, LGBT provisions

The House on Friday approved an $883.7 billion defense spending bill that includes provisions addressing social issues such as abortion, LGBT matters, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.

The inclusion of such provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is sure to set up a standoff with Senate Democrats, which have not yet released the upper chamber's version of the plan, according to The Hill.

The measure passed in a 217-199 vote, with six Democrats backing it and three Republicans against.

Among the more contentious points in the bill were provisions that would block funding for certain transgender treatments, defund and/or freeze DEI programs in the military, and block funding for military servicemembers to travel out of state to obtain an abortion.

The NDAA is one of the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund key provisions in the government, in this case the Department of Defense.

Republican lawmakers have long highlighted concerns about the military's drift into culture war and social issues such as DEI, LGBT practices, and abortion under the Biden administration. Several have insisted that the Pentagon's prioritization of such initiatives could come at the expense of its primary mission.

"The Biden Administration has made implementing woke Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives a more important mission than protecting Americans," Virginia GOP Rep. Bob Good said in April. "Our military is strongest when it is focused on training patriotic men and women to become the most lethal fighting force in the world."