GOP Policy Bans Trans Women in Capitol Bathrooms

House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a policy banning transgender women from using women's restrooms and other single-sex facilities in the Capitol, supporting a resolution introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace. Mace's proposal specifically targets Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, and aims to extend this restriction across all federal properties. Johnson emphasized that unisex restrooms are available, and each member has access to private facilities, framing the policy as 'pro-woman' rather than discriminatory. The decision has been met with criticism from Democrats, who accuse Republican leaders of manufacturing culture wars and bullying McBride. McBride and other advocates argue that the policy is an attempt to divide and distract from more pressing issues facing Americans. The enforcement mechanisms for this policy remain unclear, but similar actions in the past have involved fines for non-compliance.