**Transgender Bathroom Restrictions Implemented in US Capitol by House Speaker**

House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a new policy on Wednesday that mandates individuals in the Capitol and House Office Buildings to use bathrooms corresponding to their biological sex. This move comes shortly after Republican Representative Nancy Mace introduced legislation aimed at barring transgender women from accessing women's facilities in Capitol Hill.

According to Johnson, single-sex facilities such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms will be designated exclusively for individuals based on their biological sex. He emphasized that private restrooms are available within each member's office, and unisex restrooms are spread throughout the Capitol, underscoring the need for "women's only spaces."

This development arrives as the U.S. House prepares to welcome its first openly transgender member, Delaware Rep.-elect Sarah McBride. Mace's two-page legislative proposal stipulates that House members, officers, and employees must adhere to using facilities that align with their biological sex, arguing that allowing otherwise jeopardizes the safety and dignity of females in the House.

Mace, who reported receiving death threats over her proposal, expressed her desire for the legislation to be incorporated into the House rules for the 119th Congress. Voting on these rules is scheduled for January 2025. When questioned about her potential targeting of marginalized individuals, Mace specifically mentioned the incoming representative from Delaware, Sarah McBride. She firmly stated her refusal to allow what she termed a "biological man" to intrude into women's spaces.

GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene voiced her support for Mace's resolution but suggested extending the ban to all taxpayer-funded facilities, reiterating her stance on McBride's gender identity.

Democratic Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota criticized Mace's proposal as "pathetic," questioning the basis of her fears. Mace retorted by stating her reluctance to have individuals with male anatomy in women's locker rooms.

When asked about McBride's gender identity during a House GOP leadership press conference on Tuesday, Johnson refrained from engaging in the debate, affirming a commitment to treating all new members with dignity and respect, and emphasizing the need for deliberation and member consensus on the issue.

Sarah McBride responded to the new bathroom policy by asserting her focus on addressing the economic concerns of Delaware families rather than engaging in disputes over restroom use. She expressed her intention to comply with the rules set forth by Speaker Johnson, despite her disagreement with them. In a post on social media platform X, McBride argued that Mace's measure was a diversionary tactic by far-right extremists to avoid addressing pressing issues like housing and healthcare costs.