CEC Slams Republicans’ Anti-LGBTQI+ Attacks in NDAA
WASHINGTON, DC — After the House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, including with six Republican-sponsored anti-LGBTQI+ amendments, Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Mark Takano released the following statement:
“The National Defense Authorization Act has traditionally received strong bipartisan support, yet for the second Congress in a row House Republicans have tainted a bill aimed at improving the lives of servicemembers with poison-pill riders that threaten our troops’ rights, their families’ stability, and our efforts to retain top talent” said Rep. Mark Takano, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. “Republicans’ sacrifice of a strong bipartisan vote for a politicized NDAA to appease the Trump Administration and a small slice of their base cannot undo the sacrifice of the transgender servicemembers, cadets, or military dependents that will be hurt by this bill. Congress should be fighting for those who fight for us—but it’s clear the GOP has other priorities. I will keep fighting to prevent the harmful provisions in this bill from becoming law.”
BACKGROUND
The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act was amended by to contain six Republican-sponsored anti-LGBTQI+ amendments, including:
Norman #13: Ban on medically-necessary healthcare for transgender military dependents
This amendment prohibits “gender transition procedures” from being provided to a servicemembers’ child enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), or to provide a referral for such care. The rider would further prohibit reassigning servicemembers to a different duty station via EFMP in order to provide their dependents with this care.
This amendment was adopted by roll call vote.
Mace #14: Ban on medically-necessary healthcare for transgender servicemembers and dependents, including mental healthcare for trans young people
This amendment prohibits TRICARE from covering or furnishing “gender-related medical treatment,” defined to include puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries for transgender people. It also amends the existing ban on TRICARE covering certain gender dysphoria treatments for people under 18 to also ban mental health care for transgender young people.
This amendment was adopted by roll call vote.
Mace #15: Trans sports ban at U.S. service academies
This amendment requires the Superintendents of the U.S. service academies to prohibit transgender women from participating in athletic programs designated for women. It would dictate who can join which sports team based on a person’s “reproductive system.”
This amendment was adopted by roll call vote.
Mace #16: Ban on collection of gender identity data by Department of Defense
This amendment prohibits the Secretary of Defense from collecting information about gender identity on any form or survey. It would further require surveys to and forms to use trans-exclusionary definitions of “male” and “female” and prevent forms or surveys from having gender options besides “male” or “female.”
This amendment was adopted by roll call vote.
Mace #17: Trans facilities ban at military facilities
This amendment requires all people to use single-sex facilities, including restrooms, locker rooms and changing rooms at military installations based on their “reproductive system.”
This amendment was adopted by roll call vote.
Mills #18: Pride flag ban at Department of Defense facilities
This amendment strikes a portion of the FY24 NDAA that allows the military chain of command or senior civilian leadership to approve the display of a flag—a provision that was intended to give DOD the flexibility to continue to display Pride flags.
This amendment was adopted by roll call vote.