After years of obstructing Barack Obama’s efforts to close Guantanamo Bay when he was president, House Democrats have reversed course and are quietly trying to clear the way for Joe Biden to close the notorious detention facility should he win the presidential election in November. 

Notably, Democrats dropped key restrictions on the White House’s authority to close Guantanamo Bay from the fiscal year 2021 defense spending bill despite keeping the language in prior years’ government funding packages. And Republicans aren’t letting the restrictions go without a fight.

“There’s actually an election coming up,” said Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md. “There could be a new administration coming in, and on its first day say we’re closing Guantanamo Bay. And Congress has the opportunity right now to take a position on that.”

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., failed to put the restrictions back into this year’s defense bill in a 24-28 vote. The House Appropriations Committee ultimately advanced the legislation — without the restrictions — in a 30-22 party-line vote Tuesday.