White House vows to repeal GOP-led ban on Pride flags over U.S. embassies

[Jessica_Rose]

White House vows to repeal GOP-led ban on Pride flags over U.S. embassies

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/white-house-vows-to-repeal-gop-led-ban-on-pride-flags-over-u-s-embassies/ar-BB1kvarN?ocid=windirect&cvid=b36ef2129133430ab85a9c429f78d023&ei=67

Story by Amy B Wang (25 March 2024)

The White House is vowing to repeal a provision in the newly passed government spending bill that essentially bans rainbow Pride flags from being flown above U.S. embassies.

The $1.2 trillion package, which President Biden signed into law Saturday to avert a government shutdown, included a Republican-authored provision that limits the types of flags that can be flown or displayed over U.S. embassies to the U.S. flag; the U.S. Foreign Service flag; the POW/MIA flag; the hostage and wrongful detainee flag; the flag of a state, "insular area" or the District of Columbia; the flag of an Indian tribal government; the official branded flag of a U.S. agency; or the sovereign flag of other countries.

GOP lawmakers hope to use that provision to prevent Biden-nominated officials from displaying Pride flags at official locations at U.S. diplomatic outposts.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement over the weekend that the Biden administration fought the provision and would work with Congress to repeal it.

"President Biden believes it was inappropriate to abuse the process that is essential to keep the government open by including this policy targeting LGBTQI+ Americans," Jean-Pierre said.