Only four Dems vote with GOP to pass defense policy bill rolling back abortion policy, 'woke' initiatives

House lawmakers narrowly passed the annual defense policy bill on Friday, with four Democrats voting for it and four Republicans voting against it.

Most Democrats rejected the bill due to controversial amendments that would curb the Pentagon’s abortion travel reimbursement policy, transgender medical care and diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) programs throughout the military. Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital. 

Democrats have accused House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., of pandering to the most conservative Republicans with amendments that they say are more about the "culture war" than about military readiness. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said Friday on the House floor that such amendments would only make the current military recruitment crisis worse.