NDAA and the Republican Agenda

Congressional Republicans claim that diversity training in the U.S. military is somehow a threat to our national security and have amended the National Defense Authorization Act to prohibit such training. One of the amendments proponents, Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), said the quiet part out loud while advocating for his amendment saying it had “nothing to do” with “whether colored people, or Black people, or anybody can serve.” Needless to say such bigoted language caused quite a stir in particular among black members of Congress. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) commented: “You can’t make this up. This is who these people are, and who they’ve always been.”

Republican amendments restricting the funding of abortion services, diversity initiatives and gender-affirming care were approved Thursday. The House voted 221-213 to prohibit the secretary of Defense from covering expenses relating to abortion services, with our congressman Rep. Henry Cuellar the lone Democrat voting for the amendment.

Quite a few GOP members of the House tried to restrict the Biden administration from providing military hardware and supplies to Ukraine while it struggles to defend itself against the illegal invasion by Vladimir Putin’s Russian troops. I’m amazed that the party that claims to be all about national security and supporters of the troops has so many members who are unwilling to help a friend to stand up to a bully. Fortunately that amendment was roundly defeated.

If that’s not enough, Christian nationalist Rep. Mike Turner introduced an amendment making it illegal for members of the military to even communicate with Military Religious Freedom Foundation. The MRFF advocates for service members who have been penalized for not participating in religious services even when they are of some other faith, among other inappropriate religiously oriented activities of their commanding officers. That amendment was buried amongst a bunch of other last minute detail and was passed without a fuss because no one noticed.

Now the NDAA goes on to the Senate which is controlled by the Democrats where at least some of these ridiculous amendments are dead on arrival. Nevertheless there will be a fight during reconciliation of the two versions of the bill that is required for final passage.

On the Senate side Tommy Tuberville, former Auburn University football coach and now U.S. Senator from Alabama, continues to hold up promotions of more than 260 one-, two- and three- star generals and admirals. Tuberville’s holds also delay the confirmation of the Pentagon’s top leaders, who make up the Joint Chiefs of Staff, including the chairman. Right now the U.S. Marine Corps is without a confirmed leader for the first time in a century. The current Joint Chiefs chairman, Army Gen. Mark Milley, is required by law to step down at the end of September, while the current Army chief will leave his post in early August. Tuberville’s tif is over the same abortion related policy that the amendment to the NDAA seeks to prohibit. Tuberville’s pettiness is forcing less experienced leaders into top jobs and raising concerns at the Pentagon about military readiness.

The fact that no one in the Senate’s Republican caucus has put pressure on Tuberville to withdraw his hold tells you all you need to know about how they really feel about military readiness.

I’m a little more disgusted with Republican leaders and the people who vote for them every day.

Published in the Seguin Gazette - July 19, 2023