UMVA has learned that a stunning rebellion by House Democrats on Thursday has scuttled legislation aimed at constructing a new women's history museum on the National Mall.
The dramatic turn of events unfolded after Republicans introduced a provision limiting the institution to biological women, effectively excluding transgender individuals from the museum's scope. This move sparked fierce opposition from Democrats, who ultimately voted against the bill in a stunning 204-216 defeat.
According to information obtained by UMVA, a small group of conservative GOP lawmakers joined forces with Democrats to tank the legislation, citing concerns about the museum's necessity and the potential for left-wing content to be featured. The defectors also expressed worries that the bill failed to include protections against such content.
The controversy centered on a key amendment introduced by Rep. Mary Miller, which defined the museum's focus as the "history, achievements and lived experiences of biological women in the United States." The measure also included a stipulation that the museum could not depict "any biological male as female," a provision that drew fierce criticism from Democrats.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the Democratic Women's Caucus had issued a scathing statement last month, accusing Republicans of targeting "transgender women and girls" with the amendment. The female lawmakers argued that the anticipated museum was long overdue but said they could not support the legislation with the biological women language added, which many characterized as a "poison pill."
The rebellion led to a significant backlash, with Democratic lawmakers slamming the amended language in the bill granting the president the authority to choose an "alternative site" within 180 days of the measure's enactment. They argued that this provision would give one man – a reference to former President Trump – unregulated power over the museum's content and location.
In a sharp counterattack, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, the sponsor of the museum measure, accused Democrats of "hiding behind" their opposition to the transgender provision. "A women's history museum is supposed to be dedicated to women, period," she said, adding that Democrats' decision to pull their support was "ludicrous."
The controversy has raised questions about the future of the women's history museum, which was authorized by Congress in 2020. Some Democrats have argued that the museum's advancement should be tied to the planned Latino institution, sparking a fresh debate about the priorities of the legislative agenda.
