September 16 2025, 08:15 
Amid chaos as news of Charlie Kirk’s assassination spread across the House floor on Wednesday, Democrats pushed back on Republican efforts to codify the Trump administration’s crusade to erase transgender identity from the U.S. military.
Their efforts failed.
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Democrats were attacked repeatedly during the debate over the “must-pass” 2026 National Defense Reauthorization Act for raising objections to six last-minute discriminatory amendments aimed at the LGBTQ+ community, and then saw each pass on a voice vote, many with support from some of their Democratic colleagues.
Ultimately, 17 Democrats joined Republicans voting for the amended legislation.
The six amendments included two bans on medically necessary gender-affirming healthcare for trans service members and their dependents — already slated for forced removal from the U.S. military — including mental health care; a ban on trans women participating in sports at U.S. service academies; a ban on the Department of Defense collecting gender identity data, requiring all surveys to only ask about sex assigned at birth; a ban on trans people using the facilities assocaited with their gender on military installations; and a ban Pride flag displays of any kind at U.S. military facilities.
Four of the six anti-LGBTQ+ amendments were introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC).
Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-OR) stood to object to the Pride flag amendment, which overturned a previous compromise in the traditionally bipartisan NDAA that granted facility commanders discretion in allowing or denying Pride flag displays, calling it “cruel and callous.” She planted a small Pride flag on the rostrum where she spoke.
Seconds into her speech, a member of Florida’s Congressional delegation rose to object to Dexter’s flag display.
“That flag violates our House rules,” he said, egged on by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who stood alongside him nodding in assent, adding, “She has to take it down.”
“House policy prohibits flag-waving on the floor,” the presiding officer told Dexter.
“I am not waving it, Mr. Speaker,” Dexter replied. She continued her remarks.
“This obsession with attacking, dehumanizing, and villainizing our LGBTQIA community is as sick as it is a waste of time. Trump is using the same tired playbook authoritarian regimes have used throughout history. He is dehumanizing our most vulnerable to divide us and distract us.”
Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) rose to object to an amendment banning the military’s TRICARE health benefits for gender-affirming services, sponsored by anti-trans crusader Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), a current candidate for governor of her state.
When Jacobs argued that filler surgery, breast augmentation, and Botox injections are types of gender-affirming care, Mace shouted across the floor, “You are absolutely ridiculous! What the hell is your problem?”
Mace followed up that attack with an X post implying the Jewish congresswoman needed a “nose job.”
To @RepSaraJacobs, I talk about women’s safety and your response is commentary about my body on the House floor.
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) September 10, 2025
If you knew anything about survivors you would know some women change their bodies because of the trauma of sexual violence. They live with the consequences for a…
In a statement after the amended NDAA’s passage, Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Mark Takano called out House Republicans, saying they “have tainted a bill aimed at improving the lives of servicemembers with poison-pill riders that threaten our troops’ rights, their families’ stability, and our efforts to retain top talent.”
“Republicans’ sacrifice of a strong bipartisan vote for a politicized NDAA to appease the Trump Administration and a small slice of their base cannot undo the sacrifice of the transgender servicemembers, cadets, or military dependents that will be hurt by this bill. Congress should be fighting for those who fight for us—but it’s clear the GOP has other priorities.”
The amended legislation goes next to the Republican-controlled Senate, where it’s expected to pass.
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