Defense

Democrats line up against defense bill after GOP amendments: live coverage

The House on Thursday voted on dozens of controversial amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Thursday evening and adopted several that could imperil passage of the must-pass bill.

They include limits to diversity initiatives and prohibitions on gender-affirming care.

And, in a particularly bruising blow to the overall bill’s chances, the GOP approved a rollback of a Pentagon abortion policy.

A series of five proposals to limit U.S. involvement in Ukraine failed, however, with large swaths of the GOP voting with Democrats in opposition.

After initially expecting the battle to stretch into next week, the House Rules Committee met overnight Wednesday to approve a rule that makes 80 amendments in order — many of which could severely complicate House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) task of securing final passage of the annual $886 billion defense bill.

The House has adjourned on Thursday but will return to the NDAA on Friday.

Catch up on what happened Thursday below.

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