New defense spending bill puts slew of left-wing initiatives on chopping block

Congress’s latest defense spending bill unveiled Saturday would deal a major blow to a slew of left-wing policy initiatives that have been pushed by the Biden Pentagon.

The National Defense Reauthorization Act of 2025 (NDAA) includes provisions that prohibit the use of Department of Defense (DoD) funds to promote Critical Race Theory, climate change, the procurement of sex change surgeries for children and further extends a freeze on hiring for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, according to the text of the bill. The bill is likely to pass a Republican-controlled House and Senate amid promises from President-elect Donald Trump to rein in the so-called “woke” military.

“Our military should be focused on lethality not far-left woke nonsense,” Republican Alabama Rep. and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “The FY25 NDAA extends the DEI hiring freeze and prohibits funding for the politically biased Counter Extremism Working Group.”

The Countering Extremist Activity Working Group was established by the Biden-Harris administration in 2021 to “gain a better understanding of the scope of the problem of extremist activity” within the military’s ranks, according to the Pentagon. Biden Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been accused of targeting conservatives under the guise of anti-extremism.

The DEI hiring freeze was first enacted in the fiscal year 2024 NDAA after the Senate amended the House’s proposal to axe all DEI positions entirely. The bill also includes a historic raise for lower enlisted troops like privates and corporals, giving ranks E-1 through E-4 a 14.5% raise, according to the bill.

Trump’s Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth has been a longtime advocate for removing left-wing initiatives in the military, according to Politico. However, his nomination faces roadblocks amid a sexual assault allegation and accusations of alcohol abuse from former Fox News colleagues.

Senate Armed Services Committee Republicans and Democrats did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.

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