East Central Alabama News

Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) are highlighting provisions in the annual defense spending bill that target several left-wing policies and initiatives, according to a memo obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

On May 22, the HASC passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an $883 billion bill for the Department of Defense’s 2025 budget. The memo emphasizes new provisions in the NDAA draft, including barring the Biden administration’s Department of Defense (DOD) from implementing or maintaining diversity, equity and inclusion-based (DEI) initiatives and climate change programs within the military.

The NDAA would prevent the DOD from operating committees or programs aimed at implementing DEI policies at DOD Education Activity (DODEA) schools globally. Internal documents previously obtained by DCNF revealed millions in budget allocations from the Biden administration for DEI initiatives at DODEA schools.

Additionally, the bill prohibits Pentagon contracts with “advertising firms” that blacklist conservatives. The DCNF earlier reported that the State Department had contracted with Global Disinformation Index, a UK-based operation censoring conservative news sites.

“The FY25 NDAA builds upon our efforts last year to restore the focus of our military on lethality,” HASC Chair and Republican Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers told DCNF. “By requiring merit-based promotions, ending affirmative action at service academies, and prohibiting climate change nonsense, the FY25 NDAA makes it clear that the military is no place for Biden’s far-left politics.”

The document promotes a provision requiring all promotional and command decisions within DOD to be based on “individual merit and demonstrated performance,” excluding considerations of political affiliation, race, sex, ethnicity, or religion. This move would also end affirmative action programs at service academies such as Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and West Point—aligning with a Supreme Court ruling against factoring race into academic admissions.

The NDAA further bans new climate change policies in military operations. This includes preventing DOD policies aimed at achieving lower climate impacts or implementing greenhouse gas regulations on military activities. The bill mandates a report from DOD detailing how strict climate rules could hinder military capabilities and increase defense costs for taxpayers.

The memo states that fiscal year 2025 NDAA builds on achievements from its 2024 predecessor by halting DEI hiring programs within DOD and capping pay for existing DEI hires while also prohibiting funding for counter-extremism programs targeting so-called extremist ideologies—a program criticized for lack of evidence and potential alienation within military ranks.

Having passed through HASC last week, this NDAA draft now moves to the full House for consideration and vote. Members will have opportunities to suggest amendments before it proceeds to Senate deliberations where it awaits final approval before President Joe Biden's signature.