Michigan Senators Slotkin and Peters vote for Trump’s $914 billion military bill, with anti-trans provisions and allowing US troops to be deployed in the US

With 24 other Senate Democrats, both Michigan Senators voted for the FY 2026 Military bill, otherwise know as S.2296 – National Defense Authorization Act, to the tune of $914 billion.

The Senate version includes three key provisions targeting LGBTQ+ people: a ban on transgender participation in sports at military academies, extending even to visiting students in intercollegiate competitions; a prohibition on Defense Department funding for gender-affirming surgeries, which could also sweep in defense contractors as well as trans military spouses; and a measure gutting equal opportunity and diversity protections across the armed forces, according to one source.

In addition, there was a provision in the bill to allow the federal government to deploy US troops within the country. According to Senator Slotkin, she “pressed for provisions in this defense budget that put new guardrails on the Trump Administration’s misuse of the military at home, including to require service members deployed domestically to wear identification, and to provide trainings for service members supporting civilian law enforcement to protect against escalation during domestic operations.” Great, so Slotkin didn’t object to US soldiers repressing US residents, just make sure that people know they are US soldiers. Sweet Jesus, this is the same shit that Slotkin pushed for ICE, when she wanted them to not wear masks, but arresting, detaining and deporting immigrants is fine.

Funding US Imperialism

It’s bad enough that the 2026 US military funding bill has anti-trans provisions in it, along with granting the federal government powers to deploy US soldiers within the US. However, even more outrageous and deplorable is the fact that once again there is bi-partisan support to spend $914 billion on the military. Here are some reasons why we should collectively oppose such a massive US military budget:

• The US has the largest military budget globally and is as big as the next 9 largest military budgets combined.
• The US Military has roughly 800 bases around the world so it can play the global cop and make sure that US political and economic interests are not threatened. If we are upset and opposed to US soldiers being used domestically to repress the public, we should be equally opposed to the US military that has a long track record of suppressing public dissent and killing civilians on a massive scale.
• The US military burns more fossil fuels than most countries in the world. If we care about Climate Justice we have to oppose the US military.
• The US Military budget is also a massive subsidy for the hundreds of US military contractors, thus a form of welfare for corporations like Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris and General Dynamics, just to name a few.
• Spending $914 Billion on militarism means that the US prioritizes US imperialism abroad over funding health care, housing, education or mass transit. The issue is never is there enough money, it is a matter of priorities.

Lastly, it is worth noting that Senator Peters essentially bragged about voting for the US military budget, especially how his vote will guarantee millions for Michigan military contractors and provide improvement at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. The Selfridge Air National Guard Base is important to note, since Peters and Slotkin both met with Trump to make sure funds would be going to that base.