Democratic congresswoman Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender woman elected to the US Congress, has condemned House Republicans for blocking her proposed amendments to the 2026 National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) — amendments that would have repealed Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving openly in the military.
Despite her efforts, the Republican-controlled House refused to bring her amendments to a vote, maintaining the ban that was reinstated under Trump’s second term as part of a broader rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies and the armed forces.
Speaking earlier this month on the House floor, McBride warned that the ongoing ban actively undermines the strength and integrity of the US military.
“They wore the uniform, they kept their promises to us. It’s time we keep our promises to them,” she said, before accusing her Republican colleagues of diminishing American values by refusing to even debate the issue.
McBride continued,
“It’s one thing for some of my colleagues to disrespect me, but it’s another thing entirely to disrespect the people who lay down their lives for this country.”
Backlash to Military Policy
McBride’s comments follow a wave of criticism over the military’s treatment of trans service members. In August, outrage grew after a leaked air force memo revealed that some transgender personnel — with up to 18 years of service — were being denied early retirement.
Shannon Minter, vice-president at the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, labelled the situation a “double betrayal”, while a spokesperson for the Modern Military Association of America described the policy as “deliberately cruel”, according to The Advocate.
Trump’s reimposed ban is part of a larger suite of executive orders issued during his second term in office aimed at eliminating DEI programmes across the federal government and military — disproportionately affecting LGBTQ+ people, especially trans individuals.
McBride: Trans Issues Being Used as a Distraction
McBride has been a vocal critic of Republican efforts to roll back trans rights. In July, she spoke out about the growing wave of anti-trans policies sweeping across the US, describing them as a political smokescreen.
“They are using transgender people as pawns to distract from their failure to solve real problems,” she said.
Despite the setbacks, McBride remains committed to fighting for equality, particularly within the military, where trans Americans have served with distinction.
