by Chris at trendingpoliticsnews.com
On Friday, nine Republicans joined Democrats to vote down an amendment proposed by Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) that aimed to prohibit the use of federal funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training in the military. The amendment was defeated with a narrow margin of 221 to 210, with no Democrats voting in favor.
The nine Republicans who voted against the Gaetz amendment were: Don Bacon (R-NE), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR), John James (R-MI), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Marcus Molinaro (R-NY), and Mike Turner (R-OH).
Gaetz’s proposal was one of several Republican amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that have sparked controversy among Democrats.
DEI initiatives are seen by some as fostering a more inclusive and effective force. Advocates argue that a diverse military is a strong military. However, many critics, like Gaetz and others who supported his amendment, argue that these initiatives are divisive and distract from the military’s primary objectives. They believe that the focus should be on military readiness and capability, rather than on social issues.
Speaking in support of his amendment from the House floor, Gaetz stated yesterday, “What I bring to the House now is the most fulsome amendment to completely remove DEI from the DOD.” He further added that even if his amendment didn’t pass, the NDAA in its current form “takes a meat cleaver to DEI,” ensuring that DEI will not be a principal feature of military service if the bill becomes law.
In a tweet, Gaetz expressed his disappointment with the Democrats, stating, “Democrats in Congress can’t handle the TRUTH! We must stop the wokeification of our military and cut all funding for divisive DEI indoctrination!”