House Republicans Prepare for an Abortion Fight in a Critical Bill. Again.

Partisan amendments stalled last year’s NDAA for months, but Republicans are allowing them again this year. “They’re going through this because they need to constantly satisfy their MAGA base,” Rep. Jim McGovern told NOTUS.

Beth Van Duyne
Rep. Beth Van Duyne said her Republican colleagues say her anti-abortion amendment to the NDAA is “necessary” Patrick Semansky/AP

Congress descended into partisan chaos last year when Republicans triggered a monthslong debate over a must-pass defense policy bill by trying to amend it with controversial “anti-woke” amendments — and the GOP is looking to do it again.

“This is how it should be. To have amendments is a welcome relief,” Rep. Ralph Norman told NOTUS. “Let the representatives decide to go on record, particularly on some of the [diversity, equity and inclusion] and ‘woke’ stuff. That’s how the system works.”

The House will vote this week on a whopping 350 amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, a historically bipartisan bill that outlines national security priorities for the Defense Department. One amendment by Rep. Beth Van Duyne would get rid of a Biden administration policy allowing the defense secretary to cover travel-related expenses for service members seeking an abortion.