House Votes on Defense Bill Amendments: Base Gun Rights Advance, Ukraine Aid Cut Rejected
Lawmakers also reject a ban on transgender military service and adopt a Pentagon audit penalty
The House waded through a series of contentious amendments to its annual defense policy bill Tuesday, narrowly backing a measure to let troops and Pentagon civilians carry personal firearms on military bases while rejecting proposals to cut Ukraine aid and bar transgender troops from serving.
Lawmakers voted 215-214 to presume approval for qualified service members and civilian employees who request to carry personal firearms on base, according to Fox News.
The chamber overwhelmingly rejected, 76-350, an amendment from Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., that would have blocked Pentagon funding for Ukraine security assistance beyond protecting the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, The Hill reported.
Members also adopted, by voice vote, an amendment from Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., that would cut the defense budget by 0.5% if any Pentagon component fails a financial audit, The Hill reported.
And the House voted 212-217 to reject an amendment from Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., that would have written into law Trump's executive order barring transgender individuals from military service. Four Republicans joined Democrats to defeat the measure, according to The Hill.
The votes came as the House worked through the National Defense Authorization Act, the sprawling annual bill setting policy and spending priorities for the Pentagon.
— Compiled from reporting by The Hill and Fox News.