A bitter divide inside the Republican Party erupted Tuesday after four House Republicans joined Democrats to defeat an amendment that would have permanently written President Donald Trump’s military transgender policy into federal law.
The amendment, introduced by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), failed by a razor-thin 212-217 vote after Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Mike Lawler (NY), James Moylan (Guam), and Kimberlyn King-Hinds (Northern Mariana Islands) broke with most Republicans.
The proposal sought to codify Trump’s January 2025 executive order, which bars individuals who identify as a gender different from their biological sex from serving in the U.S. military. Supporters argued the move would protect military readiness and prevent a future administration from reversing the policy with the stroke of a pen.
Following the vote, Boebert blasted the four Republicans on social media.
“Four ‘Republicans’ just betrayed President Trump and our military in favor of the Transgenders. DISGUSTING!”
Trump’s executive order argues that military service demands honesty, discipline, and selflessness, stating that identifying as a gender different from one’s biological sex is incompatible with those standards. The order also directs the Department of Defense to maintain separate sleeping, changing, and bathing facilities based on biological sex.
The vote comes as the administration continues to defend the policy in court. In June, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled 2-1 to temporarily block Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from removing 28 transgender-identifying service members who sued the administration. However, the court left intact the administration’s ban on new transgender enlistments while litigation continues.
Although Boebert’s amendment failed, Republicans scored two separate victories on transgender-related issues.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) successfully passed an amendment prohibiting the military’s TRICARE health insurance program from paying for gender-transition drugs and surgeries. Another Mace amendment barring biological males who identify as transgender from competing on girls’ sports teams at Department of Defense-operated K-12 schools also passed with bipartisan support.
Mace celebrated the victories, saying the House had approved measures designed to protect women and girls while limiting taxpayer funding for gender-transition procedures.
The votes underscore that while Republicans remain largely united on restricting taxpayer funding for gender-transition treatments and biological males competing in girls’ sports, they are not unanimous on permanently codifying Trump’s broader military policy.
With the National Defense Authorization Act still moving through Congress, the debate over military standards, gender policy, and executive authority is likely to remain a flashpoint as lawmakers negotiate the final version of the defense bill.