House Negotiators Drop Abortion Restrictions, Extend Surveillance Powers in Defense Bill Talks

House Negotiators Drop Abortion Restrictions, Extend Surveillance Powers in Defense Bill Talks
The U.S. Capitol in Washington on Nov. 30, 2023. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Ryan Morgan
Updated:
0:00

Several House Republicans are sounding the alarm over recent negotiations on the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), saying the chamber’s GOP leadership has capitulated on military abortion-related travel and an extension of a warrantless surveillance program.

In July, House Republicans approved their version of the NDAA, with amendments that barred the Pentagon from funding gender transition treatments and surgeries for transgender service members and their families. The earlier House Republican version of the NDAA also reversed a Pentagon policy that provides travel allowances and extra leave time for service members seeking to obtain abortions.