The House will consider its annual defense spending bill Thursday, but not a proposed amendment supported by Democrats that would have blocked President Trump from banning transgender military service.
The long-shot, last-minute amendment was shot down by the House Rules Committee on Wednesday night by a party line 6-4 vote, just hours after Trump in a series of tweets announced transgender people will no longer be allowed to serve in the military in any capacity.
“We’re worried that this irresponsible type of arbitrary action really puts a major burden on the military particularly on the units and fellow service members who depend on transgender Americans who fill roles in their units,” said Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., a Rules Committee member who attempted to add the amendment to floor consideration for its sponsor Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif.
The White House said it did not have a plan to implement the president’s ban or deal with transgender troops who are currently serving and would be working with the Defense Department on the way forward.
“Now, we’re not even sure and their units aren’t even sure whether they are going to work the next day,” Polis said. “Their commanding officer doesn’t know if they’ll be around in a week, three weeks.”
The Republican majority on the committee did not debate the measure and was not swayed in its vote. This week, it ruled against allowing floor debate on a variety of controversial amendments by Democrats, including Rep. Barbara Lee’s amendment ordering a new authorization for the use of military force.
It did approve the addition of nearly $1.6 billion for the construction of 75 miles of fencing along the Mexico border and reinforcement of border barriers in California to the 2018 defense appropriations bill.
Trump campaigned on building a border wall and as president has promised the barrier will be built and paid for by Mexico. Republicans on the committee said it will reduce illicit drug trade and crime.
