Conservative House Republicans are pushing for amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would significantly reduce funding for Ukraine and impact various social programs within the military. These proposed changes are being championed by members of the House Freedom Caucus, including Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who have consistently opposed U.S. aid to Ukraine.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has introduced an amendment to cut approximately $300 million in aid designated for Ukraine. She has also proposed five other amendments targeting Pentagon funding for gender transition services and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Another amendment, put forward by Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), aims to reverse a Biden administration policy that allows service members up to three weeks of leave for out-of-state abortions. Jackson criticizes this policy as unlawful use of taxpayer money and argues it harms military readiness.

These proposed amendments are part of a larger effort by some Republicans to influence the NDAA by attaching provisions related to social issues. The White House has already voiced its opposition to several of these amendments, including those targeting drag shows in the military, critical race theory initiatives, and DEI positions within the Department of Defense.

Over 1,300 amendments have been proposed for the NDAA, and negotiations are ongoing to determine which will be included in the final version. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had hoped to finalize the legislation by Friday, but the timeline remains uncertain.