GOP Celebrates After Gutting Leftist Items From Defense Budget

(PatriotsUnited.org) – Republicans are celebrating their successful bid to remove “far-left” measures from the latest Defense Budget.

G.O.P members of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) passed the $883 billion budget for the Department of Defense (DOD) on May 22nd. At right-wingers’ behest, the new legislation includes major restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, along with military-related climate change initiatives. The legislation officially bars the Biden administration from imposing or continuing DEI policies in defense, which many worries could undermine the U.S. military effectiveness.

Among the key provisions is a ban on DOD Education Activity (DODEA) schools worldwide from heading-up committees or programs to enforce so-called “woke” policies, such as hiring based on racial background. Previous DOD leaks unveiled millions being allocated by the Biden administration for DEI initiatives at its educational institutions. Additionally, the bill bars the U.S. government’s defense-related elements from working with marketing firms that discriminate against conservatives. This measure follows a report that the State Department had contracted with the Global Disinformation Index, a UK-based organization accused of censoring conservative news outlets.

The bill mandates that all command and promotional decisions within the DOD be based on merit, rather than immutable characteristics such as political affiliation, race or sex. This provision aims to end affirmative action programs at service academies, including the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and West Point, aligning with recent Supreme Court rulings against considering race in academic admissions.

The NDAA also forbids the rollout of new climate change rules in defense operations. It specifically prohibits efforts to pursue defense activities with reduced climate impacts or to impose greenhouse gas rules. Furthermore, the bill requires the DOD to produce a report detailing how stringent environmental doctrines could impair military capabilities and ramp-up the cost-effectiveness of defense for the U.S. taxpayer.

These changes come on the back of other Republican-led efforts to halt the DOD’s DEI hiring program and capping the pay of people already hired under DEI policies. It continues to restrict funding for the DOD’s counter-extremism program, which has faced criticism for allegedly alienating service members without substantial evidence of widespread extremism. Having cleared the HASC, the NDAA now advances to all Congress Representatives for further consideration and potential amendments. Afterwards, it will proceed to the Senate, where members will vote before sending it to President Joe Biden for final approval.

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