Speaker Mike Johnson has banned transgender women from using women’s bathrooms in the House portion of the Capitol building, enacting into policy a push led by Rep. Nancy Mace.
“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.”
According to the House rules, Johnson — and any speaker — 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.” The Johnson statement did not provide details on the future of Mace’s rules push.
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 (R-S.C.) has led the charge for banning Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.), who will become the first openly transgender member of Congress in January, from using women’s restrooms. 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.
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.
POLITICO has reached out to the offices of McBride and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for comment.
Olivia Beavers and Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.