CEC Condemns Passage of Anti-LGBTQI+ FY27 National Security, State Department Appropriations Bill

CEC Chair Rep. Mark Takano: “None of these riders make our world any safer. It’s beyond shameful that the Republican majority has again tainted this vitally important bill with these poison pill riders.”

Washington, DC — After the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, which contained six anti-LGBTQI+ riders, Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Takano released the following statement:

“Once again, the GOP majority hijacked a critical government funding bill and added terrible riders that prohibit foreign assistance funds for organizations that acknowledge transgender people exist, enable anti-LGBTQI+ discrimination, and signal the United States’ retreat from our position on the world stage as a defender of human rights,” said Rep. Mark Takano, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. “None of these riders make our world any safer. It’s beyond shameful that the Republican majority has again tainted this vitally important bill with these poison pill riders. My colleagues in the Equality Caucus and I will continue fighting to prevent this bill’s anti-LGBTQI+ riders from becoming law.”


BACKGROUND ON THE ANTI-LGBTQI+ RIDERS
H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 contains six anti-LGBTQI+ riders:

Section 7067(a) prohibits flying or displaying the Pride flag over a facility of the United States Department of State.

Section 7064(c)(4) would prohibit funding for any Special Envoy, Representative, or Coordinator unless expressly authorized by Congress—restraining the United States’ ability to be a leader on the world stage. Republicans have previously highlighted how this rider would eliminate the U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons (which is currently vacant).

Section 7067(d) provides that appropriated funds cannot be used in contravention of various Executive Orders, including an Executive Order that rescinded federal contractor nondiscrimination protections, including for LGBTQI+ people.

Section 7067(e) bans funding for organizations that provide or promote medically-necessary care to transgender people or that acknowledge that transgender people exist.

Section 7067(g) reinforces two final rules, the Trans Global Gag Rule and the DEI Global Gag Rule (a separate rider, section 7057(b) reinforces the anti-reproductive freedom Expanded Global Gag Rule), by prohibiting funds appropriated from being used in contravention of these rules.

• The Trans Global Gag Rule prohibits foreign assistance funding for organizations that acknowledge the existence of trans people or advocate for nondiscrimination protections for trans people, among other activities.
• The DEI Global Gag Rule prohibits foreign assistance funding for organizations if they engage in any activities that seek to address the ongoing effects of racism, sexism, and other forms of bigotry outside of the United States.

Section 7067(i) creates a license for federal employees and organizations receiving taxpayer funds to discriminate against LGBTQI+ people by preventing the federal government from adequately responding to anti-LGBTQI+ discrimination, such as terminating federal grants or terminating an employee when discrimination occurs.