House Republicans Urge GOP Leadership to Eliminate Female Draft Language from NDAA

A group of 24 House Republicans, led by Representatives Chip Roy of Texas and Mary Miller of Illinois, are standing firm against a controversial provision in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require women to register for the military draft. They’ve sent a clear message to GOP leadership: remove the language, or face opposition from their ranks.

In a letter addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson, the Republicans demanded the removal of a provision that "amends the Military Selective Service Act to require the registration of women for Selective Service." The lawmakers argue that drafting women is not only unnecessary but harmful to the country's core values and military readiness.

“We write today in opposition to the Senate Armed Services Committee’s heinous decision to advance an NDAA that includes a provision to draft our daughters,” the letter states, calling it an affront to America’s principles. “This is yet another blatant attempt to advance a divisive agenda that seeks to eliminate all distinctions between males and females.”

The group warned that, should GOP leadership fail to act, the bill might pass with more Democratic support than Republican votes. Such an outcome would be an embarrassment for a GOP-controlled House.

Key Concerns Raised by the Republican Group:

• Undermining military readiness: The lawmakers argue that forcing young women to register for Selective Service does nothing to enhance military effectiveness.

• Erosion of traditional values: They believe drafting women fundamentally attacks the American family structure, sending daughters and mothers into combat roles while men stay home.

• Radical social agenda: The provision is seen as part of a broader push by Democrats to erase gender distinctions, an issue conservatives have long opposed.

The Republican letter emphasized that the GOP should not endorse policies that place women in combat, a sentiment shared by many within the conservative base. “Under no circumstances should the House of Representatives greenlight a future that cripples the American family by sending mothers and daughters to the frontlines drafted to be combat replacements for casualties on the battlefield while fathers and sons stay home.”

The opposition group consists of prominent conservative Republicans, including Bob Good of Virginia, Paul Gosar of Arizona, and Lauren Boebert of Colorado, all of whom argue that the NDAA's primary focus should be on national security, not social experiments. They call on Speaker Johnson to "unequivocally oppose any effort to draft our daughters."

The NDAA's current version includes a section called "Selective Service System Automatic Registration," which mandates that every U.S. citizen between 18 and 26 be automatically registered. If passed, it would mark the first time women would be included in this requirement, a move that Republicans say crosses a line.

While discussions about women in combat have been ongoing for years, the letter reflects the belief among many conservatives that the issue has already been settled conscripting women into military service is a step too far. "The reality is, if we are a country that actively chooses to forcibly conscript our daughters, we are past the point of rescue," the letter concludes.

The battle over the NDAA is likely to intensify as GOP leadership is pressed to address the concerns of its conservative members. Will Speaker Johnson stand with these Republicans, or allow the provision to stay intact? Time will tell, but one thing is clear: the fight to protect America's daughters from the draft is far from over.

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