June 15, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 15, 2023 

Contact: Sasha Galbreath, Sasha.Galbreath@mail.house.gov 

Congressman David Trone Slams Retaliatory Funding Cuts to National Defense and Diversity During Defense Subcommittee Mark-up

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman David Trone (D-MD), member of the House Committee on Appropriations, released a statement condemning Republicans’ funding cuts during the markup of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee’s Fiscal Year 2024 funding bill:

“It remains abundantly clear that extreme House Republicans are seeking retaliation for the bipartisan debt ceiling agreement by shortchanging America’s national defense and its workers.

“In business, I learned early that in order to succeed, you need the right people and the right number of people. It’s clear that Republicans take American workers for granted, slashing over $1 billion in salaries from our defense agencies. 

“These cuts also undermine our fight against climate change – putting the lives of our future generations in danger by defunding key climate measures. The Pentagon itself found the impacts of climate change are an increasing threat to our national security. These cuts are foolhardy and short-sighted.

“While our climate is warming at an alarming rate, Republicans are instead focusing on banning drag queen story hours. History will not look kindly upon this moment.

“Extreme Republicans are also continuing their attacks on American diversity by underfunding programs to strengthen our workforce and recruit the top talent, regardless of who they are. I firmly believe that our diversity is our strength, and our unity is our power; it’s abundantly clear that Republicans do not.

“The Republican’s plan for funding our government is black and white: slash funding for vital programs Americans rely on for political talking gain.”

Background:

The 2024 funding bill’s notable cuts, rescissions, and repurposing (directing money where money was not legally directed previously):

• $1.1 billion in salaries of civilian personnel, which will harm oversight of waste, fraud, and abuse and limit the ability of the Department to implement acquisition programs and provide insights for our research and development programs.
• $714.8 million for climate-related programs which limit the Department’s ability to update installations into the 21st century and includes a ban on funding for greenhouse gas reduction initiatives. 
• $100.3 million through a ban on funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. 
• $1.9 billion for the Administration’s Multiyear Procurement request that would cover the costs of buying in bulk. 

The bill includes partisan riders that have nothing to do with national security:

• Bans funding for travel expenses for reproductive healthcare needs for Service members and their families. 
• Includes legislative text which cuts funding for the Deputy Inspector General for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility and any funds that may be used to implement, administer, apply, enforce, or carry out the Executive Orders on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility.
• Bans funding for surgical procedures or hormone therapies for gender-affirming care.
• Bans funding that “promote, host, facilitate, or support events on U.S. military installations or as part of military recruiting programs that violate the Department of Defense Joint Ethics Regulation or bring discredit upon the military, such as drag queen story hour for children or the use of drag queens as military recruiters”.  
• Bans funding that may be used to classify or facilitate classification of any communications by a U.S. person as “mis, dis, or mal-information” – this would permit the spread of falsehoods without the ability to present the facts.
• Bans retribution against “any individual with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction that marriage is or should be recognized as a union of one man and one woman” – language that limits the diversity of our military.

Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Budget, and Joint Economic Committees. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the mental health and addiction crises, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.