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A bipartisan coalition emerged in the House on Tuesday evening when five Democrats joined Republicans in backing an amendment to limit transgender athletes’ participation in school sports programs operated by the Department of Defense. The contentious vote exposed deepening rifts within the Democratic caucus on a cultural issue that continues to divide the party from within.
The amendment, championed by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, would prohibit students assigned male at birth from competing on girls’ athletic teams at Department of Defense Education Activity schools. The measure passed with a vote of 221 to 203, with all Republicans supporting it and Democrats Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Shomari Figures of Alabama, Don Davis of North Carolina, Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, and Terri Sewell of Alabama breaking ranks with their leadership.
The amendment was considered as part of broader voting on amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual legislation that establishes military and national security spending and policy priorities. Schools governed by the Department of Defense serve children of active-duty military members and civilian department employees stationed worldwide and across the United States.
Democratic leadership stood unified in opposition to the measure. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and all other senior House Democratic leaders voted against the amendment, while 203 Democrats supported maintaining current policies allowing transgender participation.
Mace defended her amendment in stark language, stating that it would end what she characterized as ideologically driven policies that disadvantage female athletes. “Our warfighters’ daughters deserve better than this,” she said in remarks following the vote.
The amendment’s passage in the House represents only an intermediate step in the legislative process. The measure and the broader defense bill require identical passage in both the Senate and House before advancing to President Donald Trump for his signature, meaning its ultimate fate remains uncertain.
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