• The Senate Armed Services Committee has passed a defense policy bill that includes provisions that hold the Department of Defense accountable for its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program.
• Despite a Democratic majority in the Senate, the committee agreed to the $886 billion bill, calling for more spending.
• After the bill passed, Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi said in a statement on social media that “the Pentagon must continue to focus on deterrence, not on harmful and divisive social issues.” .

The defense bill, approved Thursday by a Senate main committee, aims to limit Pentagon Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) spending, but such efforts undermine military readiness. Republicans criticize it.

The Senate Armed Services Committee approved a defense budget of $886.3 billion for 2024 after finalizing the annual defense policy bill behind closed doors on Wednesday and Thursday. according to Read on for an overview of the bill that was announced on Friday. While the commission has not released the full text of the bill, it outlines and Republican senators hold Pentagon DEI officials accountable and ensure that service members are treated based on merit, not race or gender. It was not. It seems to specifically refer to his DEI program underway at the Department of Defense (DOD).

“The Pentagon must continue to focus on deterrence, not on harmful and divisive societal issues,” says Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi. Said In a statement on social media after the bill passed, he said: (Related article: ‘Rename, Move, Deny’: Here’s Why Republicans Face an Uphill Battle in Wiping ‘Wokaism’ From the Military)

“As an Air Force veteran myself, I will continue to fight to protect our military’s culture of honoring individual achievement with military service as a medal of honor,” he added.

With Democrats in control of the Senate, Republicans will find it more difficult to include provisions on issues such as the DEI that are highly bipartisan.

With one clause, Power The DoD should adopt a “merit-based” definition of “equity” as “the right of every person to have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from eligible programs and activities,” the gist said. Additionally, the Department of Defense will not be permitted to conduct training based on the notion that one race or gender is superior to another. according to to law.

The bill also requires the Department of Defense to disclose the cost and content of DEI training given to civilians and military personnel, and caps the earnings of many of the Department’s Diversity Agency personnel.

But the bill doesn’t seem to have made as much progress as related legislation in the Republican-controlled House on how to combat DEI in the military.house bill need A similar report is produced, but exclusion Chief of Diversity and Inclusion for the Department of Defense.

According to the brief, the Senate version requires academies to report on their efforts to increase the diversity of their corps, including how to expand recruitment efforts into Title I schools. An internal Pentagon report found that the number of minority police officers had declined significantly among the upper echelons.

Our country is facing the most dangerous time since World War II.

Our accomplishments at the NDAA this year will advance America’s defense and help care for our military and their families.#24 NDAA @SASCGOP https://t.co/TQ0i6LeXDl

— Senator Roger Wicker (@SenatorWicker) June 23, 2023

Senator Joni Ernst tried to overturn the Pentagon’s travel insurance coverage policy for female military personnel and dependents seeking out-of-state abortions, but her other bill failed to get the votes it needed. according to to Politico. Instead, the draft NDAA mandates reporting on the legality of the policy and how the Department of Defense monitors its implementation.

Senators considered about 1,000 articles in the basic bill, plus about 400 amendments, a senior aide to the committee told reporters on condition of anonymity as the bill was debated.

Only Democratic Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren voted against the bill. according to To defense news. Further discussion is expected in the Senate plenary session.

leaders of both parties Expressed Concerns that President Joe Biden’s proposed defense budget is inadequate to meet U.S. defense needs, including aid to Ukraine and a military buildup amid growing threats from China.

The non-binding amendment calls for additional funding, noting that “increasing national security concerns require additional funding beyond the defense spending ceiling,” according to the summary.

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