October 11 2025, 08:15 
Amid a federal government shutdown now in its tenth day, the U.S. Senate on Thursday voted through its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with 26 Democrats voting to secure its passage, despite its anti-transgender and anti-DEI riders.
Holdouts included out Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and LGBTQ+-allied Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sander (D-VT).
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The Senate’s version of the NDAA passed after a marathon amendment vote. It includes a ban on trans athletes participating in sports at military academies, a ban on Defense Department funding for gender-affirming surgeries, and a measure aligning the military with President Trump’s assault on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts).
Republicans secured the vote for the long-stalled, “must-pass” measure only after agreeing to hand Democrats a chance to dissent with 17 amendments, Politico reports.
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Those included a vote on requiring Congress to approve National Guard deployments and roles in assisting law enforcement; a proposal to block funding for Trump’s retrofit of a gifted Qatari jet for use as Air Force One; and a repeal of the 2002 Iraq War authorization.
The Democratic amendments all went down in defeat.
Nevertheless, the bill passed in a 77-20 vote late Thursday night.
The anti-trans measures included in the legislation — that more than two dozen Democrats voted for — will have ripple effects beyond the military.
The ban on trans athletes at military academies extends to visiting students in intercollegiate competitions, forcing Republicans’ MAGA trans animus on private and state schools in the bargain.
And the DoD ban on gender-affirming surgeries will likely extend to defense contractors’ healthcare plans, as well.
The Senate bill now heads to negotiations with the House. Their version has even more culture war baggage, including an all-ages ban on health coverage for gender-affirming care, a ban on trans athletes at all military facilities, a transphobic bathroom ban on military bases, a ban on Pride flags at all DoD facilities, and the end of gender identity data collection.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) infamously ridiculed colleagues on the House floor during debate on the bill earlier this year.
In its current form, the NDAA would authorize roughly $925 billion in defense spending.
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