WH wants to repeal provision in recently enacted spending bill banning pride flags over US embassies

The White House says it want to repeal a provision in the recently enacted $1.2 trillion spending bill that effectively prohibit U.S. embassies from flying pride flags. 

The provision was championed by congressional Republicans.

The White House seems to suggest President Biden unwilling accepted the provision because he had to make an eleventh-hour decision to agree to the overall spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. 

"President Biden believes it was inappropriate to abuse the process that was essential to keep the government open by including this policy targeting LGBTQI+ Americans," a White House spokesperson said in an interview with ABC News.

Biden signed the legislation Saturday to avoid the partial shutdown. 

"While it will have no impact on the ability of members of the LGBTQI+ community to serve openly in our embassies or to celebrate Pride, the Administration fought against the inclusion of this policy and we will continue to work with members of Congress to find an opportunity to repeal it," the White House spokesperson also said.

The text in the provision reads that "[n]one of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be obligated or expended to fly or display a flag over a facility of the United States Department of State," The Hill newspaper reports.