Far-Right Pentagon Spending Bill Moves To Senate Where It’s Doomed To Fail

After right-wing House Republicans used the yearly U.S. military budget to challenge perceived “wokeness” within the military, their Senate counterparts have been left to try and salvage the bill into something that can attract 60 votes and pass the upper chamber.

House Republicans have accused President Joe Biden and his administration of trying to infuse all aspects of American life with liberal values and policies.

Last week, the House adopted hard-right proposals to dismantle a Pentagon policy that provides service members with access to abortions and defund the military’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Conservatives added provisions that target transgender service members, including one that would deny coverage for transition care and another that would force them to use facilities consistent with their sex at birth.

Mainstream Republicans fear that the actions of party extremists will alienate moderate Republicans and Democratic, whose votes will be essential to getting the bill passed in the Senate.

This is not the first time in recent weeks that House Republicans have been split. Last month, far-right members revolted against Speaker Kevin McCarthy over the debt ceiling deal, claiming that they were not given enough influence in the decision. The rebels halted the passage of many important Republican bills and have threatened to do so again, should they feel that their voices are not being heard.

McCarthy cannot lose more than four Republican votes on any bill. The question remains open as to how the Speaker will get a compromise Pentagon funding bill through the House this summer.

Amid the early stages of the 2024 election cycle, the feuding among House Republicans is raising questions about the party’s ability to regain control of the White House in 2024.