McCarthy faces challenge of passing defense bill after series of contentious amendments are added

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces a challenge Friday morning: A razor thin margin to get a must-pass defense policy bill over the finish line with a majority of Democrats signaling they cannot support the version of the legislation crafted by conservative Republicans.

The bill – known as the National Defense Authorization Act – sets the policy agenda and authorizes funding for the Department of Defense. Republicans voted Thursday to attach a series of amendments to the package that include a variety of conservative policies that target abortion, transgender rights and diversity, equity and inclusion programs, among other social issues.

In a scathing statement, the three House Democratic leaders attacked Republicans for pushing the defense bill to the right as the Democrats move behind the scenes to get their caucus to vote in lockstep against the plan on final passage Friday. Democrats are trying to limit defections, but two sources familiar with the matter say they could lose at most five to six of their members in the vote on final passage. If they lose that many members, it would greatly increase the prospects that Republicans could muscle the bill through.

Without Democratic support, Republicans will need to wrangle nearly every member of the GOP conference in order to get the bill over the finish line. Whatever passes the House would still need to be reconciled with the Democratic-controlled Senate’s version.

Top Republicans are growing optimistic that they will get the votes, but they recognize the vote will be close and they may need a handful of Democrats to get the measure passed, according to multiple GOP sources on Friday morning ahead of the vote.

One positive sign for House Republicans: By amending the bill with hot-button social issues, several conservative outside groups like Heritage Action and National Right to Life are backing the bill…