President Biden signed a $1.2 trillion spending bill into law Saturday but not without regrets, as the White House blasted a provision tucked inside the legislation that will prevent his State Department from flying Black Lives Matter or gay pride flags at foreign embassies.
“President Biden believes it was inappropriate to abuse the process that was essential to keep the government open by including this policy targeting LGBTQI+ Americans,” the White House said in a statement Saturday.
The ban applies to all State Department buildings and all flags other than a select list that includes the American flag and state, tribal and territorial banners, federal agencies and the POW-MIA flag.
It was one of a handful of provisions Republicans managed to secure in the massive spending bill to roll back what they see as an overbearing “woke” agenda by the Biden administration. Gay rights groups said Democrats successfully blocked dozens of provisions that specifically targeted the LGBT community.
The White House made clear it was not part of the negotiations over the flag provision.
“While it will have no impact on the ability of members of the LGBTQI+ community to serve openly in our embassies or to celebrate Pride, the Administration fought against the inclusion of this policy and we will continue to work with members of Congress to find an opportunity to repeal it,” the White House said