House rejects amendment banning transgender individuals from serving in military

The House of Representatives rejected a proposed amendment that would have barred transgender people from serving in the US military. The vote preserved the existing policy allowing transgender service members, making it a significant rebuff to efforts to reintroduce restrictions through the annual defence spending bill.

The amendment was considered during debate on the National Defense Authorization Act, the yearly legislation setting US defence policy and funding. Its rejection reflected divisions over military inclusion and came after the Biden administration reversed the previous administration’s restrictions on transgender military service.