House cancels Pentagon’s abortion policy, sparking Senate battle: Week in Photos.

Debate Over Defense Bill Dominates Congress

It was a week of intense debate in Congress as lawmakers clashed over a must-pass defense bill. The focus of the heated discussions? Social issues, including a controversial Pentagon policy regarding out-of-state abortions.

One senator, Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), took a stand against the abortion policy by single-handedly blocking around 260 military nominations and promotions. The policy was implemented in 2022 after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, leading to a wave of abortion bans and restrictions in states with a significant military presence.

House Republicans Take Action

House Republicans made their move on Thursday, approving an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would cancel the Pentagon’s abortion policy. However, Democrats argued that this would negatively impact female troops and hinder military recruitment efforts, especially during a time of enlistment shortfalls.

Not stopping there, the House also passed amendments to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion military programs, as well as to prohibit the Pentagon from funding hormone treatments or gender transition surgeries for transgender troops. These social issue amendments, among many others, caused the underlying bill to lose its broad bipartisan support.

The amended NDAA, which authorizes $886 billion in national defense spending and includes a 5.2% increase in military base pay, narrowly passed the GOP-led House in a 219-210 vote. Now, it heads to the Democratic-led Senate, where Tuberville is determined to continue his fight.

“The Biden administration injected politics into the military and imposed an unlawful abortion policy on American taxpayers,” Tuberville tweeted on Friday. “I am trying to get politics out of the military.”

Click here to read more from The Washington Examiner.

Other Highlights of the Week

Aside from the defense bill debates, there were other notable events in Washington. House Republicans held high-profile hearings featuring climate envoy John Kerry, who faced scrutiny over his private jet use, and FBI Director Christopher Wray, who denied allegations of bureau weaponization against conservatives.

Here are some scenes from Washington during the week of July 10, 2023, captured by Washington Examiner photographer Graeme Jennings:

• Wray grilled by the House Judiciary Committee
• Tuberville defends his blockade on military promotions over the Pentagon’s abortion policy
• Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) form an alliance over psychedelics
• Senate puts PGA-LIV golf deal under the microscope
• Senate Republicans blast Bidenomics
• Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) brings his son to work

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