Weve known for some time that the rise of anti-trans politics in the Republican Party was likely an intentional tactic devised by political strategists in backrooms. But the recent events in Washington, D.C., and the eventual passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bring the craven nature of those moves out into the light.In the wake of same-sex marriage being legalized nationwide by the Supreme Court in 2015, Republicans needed another minority rights issue to get their base angry over. The growing mainstream awareness of trans people at the time played perfectly for those goals, and that move is evident in the escalation of anti-trans bills since 2015. Related The anti-trans movement is sadly going to outlive Trumps presidency Prior to the government shutdown at the end of September, the appropriations bills that conservatives in the Republican-controlled Congress were putting forward included a wealth of anti-trans riders. Six amendments were added to the 2026 NDAA, the $900 billion military funding bill, on September 10 that would have restricted gender-affirming care for service members and their families, banned trans women from sports, banned trans people from using the restroom at military facilities, removed gender identity questions from military surveys, and banned Pride flags.While that speaks to a strong anti-trans sentiment, it appears that Republicans may have largely included them partially to satisfy the anti-trans extremists in the party and to represent something they could give up during deal-making with the Democrats. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today By the time the government was steaming towards a shutdown and stopgap bills, or continuing resolutions, were being considered, all of those anti-trans riders had evaporated. Republicans seemed ready to drop them as a way to push through other appropriations and to focus on ensuring Obamacare subsidies expired, forcing up healthcare prices for many Americans.The big fear was that once the government was reopened, new appropriations bills would include all those anti-trans clauses. That fear was clearly well-founded. The NDAA once again included a ban on Defense Department resources going towards gender-affirming surgeries, a ban on trans women taking part in programs or activities at the military service academies that are designated for women or girls, and other anti-diversity language.But this past week, deal-making prior to the bill passing on Wednesday resulted in those anti-trans clauses being attenuated. The restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare were removed entirely, and the sports ban was altered to only affect those enrolled in the military academy, not visiting teams. That wasnt a total win, but it was a big step in the right direction. We dont know what they gave up to remove those anti-trans riders, but it seems the president and House Republicans might not be as deeply invested as theyd like us to believe.What we do know, however, is what bargaining chip was handed over to at least one representative to secure a yes vote on the NDAA.Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) heavily criticized the NDAA bill for its massive spending of taxpayer money in ways that wouldnt actually help American citizens, tweeting, These American People are $38 Trillion in debt, suffering from an affordability crisis, on the verge of a healthcare crisis, and credit card debt is at an all time high. Funding foreign aid and foreign wars is America Last and is beyond excuse anymore. This week we are voting on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that funds our military and its, once again, filled with Americans hard earned tax dollars used to fund foreign aid and foreign countrys wars.These American People are $38 Trillion in debt, suffering pic.twitter.com/Rgbcrvy7aY Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) December 8, 2025However, she changed her no to a yes, and not because she suddenly thought the bill was worthwhile. She revealed this week that all it cost was a promise from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) that her pet project bill would get a vote on the House floor on December 17.The Protect Childrens Innocence Act, Greenes bill, is not about protecting children. It is a massive gender-affirming care ban for trans youth, which would allow for doctors and parents alike to be charged with a felony for providing minors with gender-affirming healthcare.Greene has been pushing this bill for years, while a near-identical measure has been proposed multiple times in the Senate with a list of co-sponsors that has included JD Vance. However, it has never actually been put to a vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has claimed to support such a ban in the past, but has either been focused on other matters, didnt think it would pass, or has been holding this anti-trans bill as a bargaining chip to spend when he needed Greenes vote one day. Now, Greenes vanity project is suddenly getting a vote, just as shes on her way out the door. Not because of its merits as a bill, nor because Republicans agreed with the anti-trans aims, but because that vote was traded for her agreement to help pass the NDAA.Greenes bill is unlikely to pass, but it will allow her to say she did what she promised, and she can blame Capitol Hill for it not becoming law. It all emboldens anti-trans hate in the name of political maneuvering without a care for what is actually said.California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) spoke this week about how much pro-trans legislation he has passed in the state. He also said that he didnt support trans inclusion in sports, noting that his disagreement comes from his heart, and that it wasnt a political decision.Hes wrong about denying trans children inclusion in school sports, and he knows that its not a politically good position to take. But when Republicans are hating us because their strategists tell them to, theres perhaps something refreshing (if depressing and annoying) about someone genuinely believing in something rather than being guided by cynical positioning. Correct. Were sorry your daughter hates you, Elon. https://t.co/HeJIm5fJMS Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) December 11, 2025Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.