During a press briefing at the White House on December 12, 2022, U.S. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed his concerns about a “small group” of House Republicans who have cleverly inserted a variety of domestic-focused amendments into the National Defense Authorization Act. Sullivan argued that this move essentially creates a trap, preventing the legislation from ever reaching the president’s desk. He stressed that national security should take precedence over politics in this matter.
The House Republicans proposed a series of amendments which include ending diversity initiatives within the Defense Department, limiting access to gender-affirming care for active-duty transgender servicemembers, and controversially, preventing the Defense Department from covering abortion-related expenses for active-duty servicemembers. Sullivan emphasized that the focus should have been on providing necessary capabilities and support for the troops and their families, rather than getting tangled up in these divisive domestic political issues.
Although GOP leaders have tacitly approved these amendments, Sullivan’s characterization of their intentions remains vague.
The National Defense Authorization Act is a crucial omnibus bill that allocates funds for the Department of Defense. It is currently being sent to the Senate, where Democratic senators are expected to remove many of the contentious amendments.
“Ultimately, I believe wisdom will prevail, and the bill will not succeed,” Sullivan said optimistically.
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