Equality Caucus Condemns Anti-Equality Riders in Homeland Security FY2025 Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the Congressional Equality Caucus released the following statement condemning the passage of H.R. 8752, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2025, which contains several anti-LGBTQI+ provisions:

“House Republicans’ incessant attacks on the LGBTQI+ community, including those coming to the United States to seek asylum, makes it clear: they do not believe LGBTQI+ people deserve any protection by our government,” said Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. “Americans deserve better than the bigoted, anti-equality provisions in this bill.”

BACKGROUND
H.R. 8752, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2025, contains 4 anti-LGBTQI+ provisions, including three riders that were in the bill when it was reported out of committee and an additional rider adopted via amendment on the floor:

Sec. 227: Ban on medically necessary, evidence-based care for transgender people
This section prohibits funds made available by the bill from being used “to administer hormone therapy medication or perform or facilitate any surgery for any person in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the purpose of gender-affirming care.”

Sec. 546: Blocking LGBTQI+ Inclusive DEI Executive Orders
Under this section, funds appropriated by the bill cannot be used to implement, administer, apply, enforce, or carry out:

• Executive Order No. 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government”
• Executive Order No. 14035, “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce”
• Executive Order No. 14091, “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government”

All of these Executive Orders are LGBTQI-inclusive.

Sec. 547: Creating a license to discriminate against the LGBTQI+ community
This rider creates a license for people and organizations—including those receiving taxpayer funds—to discriminate against LGBTQI+ people under the guise of religious liberty, and it prevents the federal government from adequately responding.

For example, it prohibits the federal government from reducing or terminating a federal contract or grant with an organization that discriminates against LGBTQI+ people if the organization justifies their discrimination based on the belief that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. It similarly prohibits the federal government from reducing or terminating the employment of an employee who discriminates against LGBTQI+ people if the employee justifies their discrimination based on the belief that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

For example:

• If a contractor with TSA at a small airport refused to screen two women after learning they are married to each other, TSA could not terminate the contract.
• A benefits specialist could not be terminated from employment for refusing to work with or process the paperwork of a same-sex spouse of a DHS employee who is seeking to collect survivor benefits after their spouse (the DHS employee) passed away.
   

Norman #39: Prohibiting funding for TSA’s Inclusion Action Plan
Norman #39 states that no funds “may be used for the Inclusion Action Committee of the Transportation Security Administration.” In his remarks, Rep. Norman specifically criticized the Committee for its work to create a gender-neutral option for TSA PreCheck.
This amendment was adopted by voice vote on the House floor.