Johnson announces policy barring transgender women from Capitol women's bathrooms
Speaker Mike Johnson has banned transgender women from using women’s bathrooms in the House portion of the Capitol building. “All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” Johnson said in a statement Wednesday. He added: “It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women’s only spaces.” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) had pushed for Johnson to enact a ban, threatening to force a floor vote if he didn't take action. According to the House rules, speakers have “general control of the Hall of the House, the corridors and passages in the part of the Capitol assigned to the use of the House.” Johnson only has control over the House side of the complex, so Senate policy on transgender bathroom usage would have to be separately determined. When asked about enforcement of the policy, Johnson told reporters, “Like all House policies, it's enforceable. And we have single-sex facilities for a reason, and women deserve women's only spaces.” Mace has led the charge as Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.) is set to become the first openly transgender member of Congress in January. Democrats have fiercely defended McBride against the GOP attacks, while the congresswoman-elect has called the focus on bathrooms a distraction from issues Congress should be addressing. McBride, in a statement later Wednesday, called the policy a distraction from the work she was elected to do. "I’m not here to fight about bathrooms," she said. "I’m here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families. Like all members, I will follow the rules as outlined by Speaker Johnson even if I disagree with them." The move by Republican leaders comes on Transgender Day of Remembrance. A large group of Democratic lawmakers introduced a resolution memorializing the lives of transgender people lost due to violence in the United States and around the globe. In a statement, Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) slammed the decision as a "cruel and unnecessary rule that puts countless staff, interns, and visitors" at risk in the Capitol. "How will this even be enforced?" Pocan asked. "Will the Sergeant at Arms post officers in bathrooms? Will everyone who works at the Capitol have to carry around their birth certificate or undergo a genetic test? This policy isn’t going to protect anyone—but it is going to open the door to rampant abuse, harassment, and discrimination in the Capitol." The office of Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Olivia Beavers and Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.
Speaker Mike Johnson has banned transgender women from using women’s bathrooms in the House portion of the Capitol building.
“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” Johnson said in a statement Wednesday.
He added: “It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women’s only spaces.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) had pushed for Johnson to enact a ban, threatening to force a floor vote if he didn't take action. According to the House rules, speakers have “general control of the Hall of the House, the corridors and passages in the part of the Capitol assigned to the use of the House.”
Johnson only has control over the House side of the complex, so Senate policy on transgender bathroom usage would have to be separately determined.
When asked about enforcement of the policy, Johnson told reporters, “Like all House policies, it's enforceable. And we have single-sex facilities for a reason, and women deserve women's only spaces.”
Mace has led the charge as Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.) is set to become the first openly transgender member of Congress in January. Democrats have fiercely defended McBride against the GOP attacks, while the congresswoman-elect has called the focus on bathrooms a distraction from issues Congress should be addressing.
McBride, in a statement later Wednesday, called the policy a distraction from the work she was elected to do.
"I’m not here to fight about bathrooms," she said. "I’m here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families. Like all members, I will follow the rules as outlined by Speaker Johnson even if I disagree with them."
The move by Republican leaders comes on Transgender Day of Remembrance. A large group of Democratic lawmakers introduced a resolution memorializing the lives of transgender people lost due to violence in the United States and around the globe.
In a statement, Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) slammed the decision as a "cruel and unnecessary rule that puts countless staff, interns, and visitors" at risk in the Capitol.
"How will this even be enforced?" Pocan asked. "Will the Sergeant at Arms post officers in bathrooms? Will everyone who works at the Capitol have to carry around their birth certificate or undergo a genetic test? This policy isn’t going to protect anyone—but it is going to open the door to rampant abuse, harassment, and discrimination in the Capitol."
The office of Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Olivia Beavers and Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.
