Staff ReportsThe House managed to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), churning out an almost $900 billion defense budget with a surprising level of bipartisan support. In a spectacle typical of Washington politics, the final vote was 281-140, with the GOP mostly rallying behind the monumental bill while some rogue members decided to play the role of the grumpy cat. A whopping 16 Republicans, perhaps convinced they were casting votes in an Occupy Wall Street protest instead of a defense budget, voted against it. The Democrats, ever the party of confusion, had their own internal discord, with 81 members saying “yes” and 124 opting for “no.”
For those questioning what this lengthy eating-drama of a bill actually contained, it prioritized a couple of noteworthy Republican issues: banning hormone treatments for minors struggling with gender identity and putting the brakes on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within the military. Because surely redefining military excellence was not at the top of any soldier’s wish list. The bill also promised a 4.5% pay boost for all service members, and junior enlistees would see an additional 10%. After all, nothing says “thank you for your service” like a nice fat check—unless it’s crammed full of nonsense social justice buzzwords, which it avoided this time around.
281-140: The House passes the annual defense package, the National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA.
The bill includes a controversial provision that would ban gender-affirming care for children of service members. pic.twitter.com/VwR2qKHCX7
— The Recount (@therecount) December 11, 2024
Republican House Speaker Johnson did his best to frame this particular NDAA as a significant win for the party, touting the inclusion of important provisions and attempting to unite his colleagues without the necessity of dragging the Democrats along. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing the welfare of service members and their families, calling these provisions landmark investments. The talk around banning treatments that sterilize children hints at a glimmer of sanity in a world gone mad with gender ideology. Yet, not everyone was swayed; some hardliners abstained in a dramatic show of “I’m not sure this is good enough.”
Rep. Chip Roy, an outspoken conservative, made it clear that while the process was moving forward, he couldn’t back the NDAA, citing various concerns. His colleague from South Carolina, Rep. Ralph Norman, raised alarm bells over the bill’s lack of fiscal offsets, especially with America’s staggering $40 trillion debt lurking in the shadows like that one uncle who shows up at every family gathering and critiques everyone’s life choices. Perhaps they believe cutting back on the military is their way of balancing the budget, but what actually balances the budget is keeping the spending in check.
Despite these dissenting voices, there were some cheers from the House Freedom Caucus, proving that not all Republicans have thrown in the towel just yet. The chairman praised the transgender policy as a major step forward, something that might make the left fume into a frenzy once again. Amidst the murmurs of discontent from the left who claimed the NDAA was laden with partisan policies, one can only chuckle at the irony. These are the same folks who coined the phrase “It’s for the children!” while contriving legislation that panders to woke ideology.
With this legislative behemoth now headed to the Senate for another round of scrutiny, one can almost hear the Democratic refrain of disappointment over the lack of provisions for in vitro fertilization for service members. As if the military is running out to stock up on IVF kits instead of tanks. While the bill has passed through the House, the Senate will likely serve as the next battleground for this curious mix of patriotism and social engineering, reminding everyone that in the circus of American politics, the show must go on—preferably with a side of common sense.
