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The typically bipartisan bill dissolved into a nearly GOP-only measure Thursday as Republicans approved a raft of culture wars amendments.

As the rightward tilt became clear on the House floor, Democrats who had previously supported the NDAA in the Armed Services Committee derided the revamped bill.

The bill we passed out of committee sent a clear, united message to our allies and partners, global competitors, and the American people that democracy still works, and Congress is still functional, the Democrats said in their statement. That bill no longer exists.

The vote is a test for McCarthy, who needs near-unanimous GOP support in his five-seat majority. McCarthy and his team spent the week navigating Republican infighting over whether to hold votes on controversial amendments, which initially stalled the bill, and to minimize defections.

Adding conservative policies to the bill may win over members of the House Freedom Caucus and other far-right members who rarely, if ever, vote for the defense bill.

Rep. Jim Banks speaks with reporters as he arrives for the House Republican leadership election at the U.S. Capitol Nov. 15, 2022. | Francis Chung/POLITICO

They have no reason not to vote for this, Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said of conservatives. It tackles a lot of the woke issues that have been pushed by the administration on our military in a strong way and it supports our military to keep America safe.

So theres no reason for any Republican to vote against it, he added.

If the bill makes it through the House, many of the most hardline provisions tacked on by House Republicans are unlikely to survive negotiations with the Democratic-led Senate on a compromise defense bill. The Senate is set to begin debate on its own defense legislation next week.

The clearest signal that Republicans would go their own way came on Thursday when the House narrowly adopted Rep. Ronny Jacksons (R-Texas) amendment to block Pentagon policies that reimburse travel costs for troops seeking abortions.

Democrats telegraphed that the proposal was a red line. The measure was adopted anyway in a 221-213 vote, with only two Republicans breaking ranks.

Republicans didnt stop there. They muscled through proposals to end coverage of transition surgeries and hormone treatments for transgender troops, gut diversity and inclusion programs and limit the specific flags that can be flown at military installations a move that would effectively ban flying the pride flag.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) ripped Republicans over the votes, arguing extreme MAGA Republicans had hijacked the legislation.

House Republicans have turned what should be a meaningful investment in our men and women in uniform into an extreme and reckless legislative joyride, the trio said in a statement.

The Armed Services Committee already took aim at a variety of contentious issues in its June markup of the legislation. The panel approved GOP proposals to pave the way for the return of troops kicked out for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine, barring funding for drag shows on military bases and banning the promotion of critical race theory. The legislation still won the support of all but one committee Democrat.

Still, some of the most hardline efforts were defeated late Thursday evening.

Far right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes (R-Ga.) push to prohibit the transfer of U.S. cluster bombs to Ukraine failed in a lopsided 147-276 vote. Greenes largely symbolic amendment cluster munitions have already been delivered to Ukraine following Bidens decision was supported by 98 Republicans and 49 Democrats.

Lawmakers rebuffed Rep. Matt Gaetzs effort to block any diversity, equity and inclusion training after nine Republicans sided with Democrats.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, left, talks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in the House chamber on Jan. 5, 2023. | Alex Brandon/AP Photo

And Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) came up well short in his bid to defund a congressionally mandated commission tasked with renaming Army bases and military property named in honor of Confederate leaders. The effort was largely symbolic as the panel has finished its work and most Army bases have already scrubbed Confederate names. Still, the measure garnered 177 votes from House Republicans.

In all, the legislation authorizes $886 billion for national defense programs in fiscal 2024, the same amount requested by President Joe Biden and equal to a spending cap set for defense spending in a recent debt limit deal.

The price tag includes authorizes $842 billion for the Pentagon and another $32 billion for nuclear weapons programs at the Energy Department. The legislation doesnt actually provide any funding, however, and must be followed by appropriations legislation.

Troops would see a 5.2 percent pay increase under the bill. It also authorizes $300 million for the Pentagon to continue to arm Ukraine.

The measure greenlights nine new ships for the Navy, including an amphibious warship that wasnt included in the Pentagons budget request. The Navy has said the extra ship was too expensive to procure this year, but Marine Corps leaders have publicly campaigned for the vessel as essential for their mission.

The legislation also would give the Space Force its own branch of the National Guard for its part-time personnel.

Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) inserted language to block improvements to U.S. Space Commands temporary Colorado headquarters until the Air Force selects a permanent home. The Trump administration selected Rogers state as the site for the new headquarters, but Colorado lawmakers have fought the move while the Air Force has delayed a final decision for months.

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'An ode to bigotry and ignorance': Democrats thrash defense bill ... - POLITICO