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Republicans in the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have heroically fought back against the Biden administration’s push for divisive and discriminatory woke policies in the military. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes all Pentagon spending for the upcoming fiscal year, has taken major steps to cut down on race and gender-based training and initiatives.

Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), Navy veteran and chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel, included an amendment mandating the DOD to base personnel decisions on merit and banning the military from taking race and gender into account during recruitment. Banks rightfully pointed out that America’s military became the greatest fighting force in the world by promoting excellence and color-blind principles. The Biden administration’s race and gender-based treatment of service members is making our military weaker and less safe, and anti-woke legislators must continue to roll back its radical and divisive attempts to erode equal protection under the law.

Banks also successfully included a provision to eliminate the Navy Digital Ambassador program, which relied on an active-duty sailor who was also a non-binary drag queen to help recruit sailors. This program was completely inappropriate and ineffective, and its elimination is a victory for traditional values and common sense. Banks also ensured that a provision be included to investigate how Biden’s transgender policies have impacted troops, which is critical in maintaining the strong and cohesive nature of our military.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) fearlessly succeeded in including a provision to stop drag shows and drag queen story hours on military bases, which would codify into law a policy that Gaetz forced Pentagon leadership to make just last month. The promotion of degenerate and sexually perverse behavior is completely unacceptable on our military bases, and Gaetz’s efforts to stop these vile shows should be applauded. Gaetz also prioritized the elimination of the political position of DEI chief at the DOD, which is a clear victory in the fight against Critical Race Theory and divisive woke tactics. Additionally, Gaetz sought to require the DOD to report on how much time is wasted on Critical Race Theory training, which further highlights the importance of prioritizing military training that actually enhances readiness and preparedness.

Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL), a Green Beret colonel and chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Readiness, played a crucial role in banning taxpayer funding for Critical Race Theory at U.S. service academies, reviewing DEI programs at the DOD, and setting gender-neutral fitness standards for combat jobs in the U.S. Army. These common-sense measures are critical in preserving the strength and cohesion of the military, and ensuring that merit and ability are the only factors considered in personnel and recruitment decisions.

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), an Air Force veteran and ranking member of Armed Services, demonstrated commendable leadership by including the Merit Act, which redefines equity as “equal opportunity” in all DOD policies calling for “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” Equal opportunity ensures that all troops have the chance to compete for opportunities within the military, while equity based solely on race promotes the exact divisiveness and discriminatory practices that the military should be fighting against. Wicker also included a mandate for the DOD to account for the cost and scope of DEI programming, ensuring that senior defense officials are not wasting time promoting these toxic policies.

The House version of the bill also included measures to support troops who opposed the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate and those who were kicked out for refusing the vaccine. Banks included provisions to prohibit the Pentagon from punishing troops based on their vaccination status, allow troops who were kicked out for refusing the vaccine to re-enter service, and set up a process to reinstate discharged troops at their prior rank.

The passage of these bills on a bipartisan basis is a testament to the growing resistance against harmful woke policies that are eroding the strength and effectiveness of our military. These bills must be fully passed and signed into law to ensure that merit and ability are the only factors considered in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of service members. America’s military must remain the strongest and most effective fighting force in the world, and these bills are a critical step in ensuring that it retains its strength, cohesion, and readiness.