Lauren Boebert's Attack on Transgender Defense Official Sparks Backlash
attempting to cut her salary to just $1 per year.The Colorado Republican introduced an amendment to a defense spending bill in the House using the Holman rule, which allows Representatives to target individual federal employees for salary cuts.In an unusual move the defense spending bill was initially blocked from even making its way to the floor in a procedural vote, usually a formality, with a small group of hardline Republican rebels joining Democrats to vote it down.
It comes as the U.S. remains on the path to a partial government shutdown, which would see millions of federal workers furloughed, unless Congress can agree additional funding by the end of the month.Speaking in the House on Wednesday Boebert referred to "Mr Skelly," misgendering the official, who she claimed "is failing at his job and the basic responsibilities."Boebert continued: "On his watch the Army missed their recruiting goal by 15,000 soldiers last year, and all other branches were forced to dig deep into their pools of delayed entry applicants to meet their recruitment goals."As DOD's [Department of Defense's] highest-ranking trans official, this delusional man thinking he is a woman embodies and espouses the woke-ism that causes, that's causing, significant harm to our military readiness and troops' morale.
The military shouldn't be focused on this woke agenda and combating climate change. With him at the helm of readiness, these misguided policy pursuits will continue to be at the forefront of DOD's priorities."Democrat Representative Betty McCollum hit back, commenting: "I rise in the strongest opposition to this amendment.
People deserve to be treated with dignity and respect when being addressed. Assistant Secretary Skelly has served in her role admirably, as she has done as her time as a naval officer.
