McCarthy Faces Social Policy Tripwires as House Debates Defense

House Republican leaders have a tough job when they bring the annual defense policy bill to the floor this week: wrangling conservatives who seek to curtail diversity and inclusion, abortion rights, and security aid to Ukraine — while attracting enough Democrats to pass the legislation.

Congress has treated the mammoth measure as must-pass for 60 years because it authorizes pay for troops in harm’s way. For fiscal 2024, it would authorize $886 billion for national security, in keeping with the debt limit deal President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) reached.

The Rules Committee on Tuesday must sift ...