W.H. Press Secretary Gibbs Says DOMA Repeal Would Be 'Inordinately Challenging'

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that given Republican control of the House, it would be “inordinately challenging” to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act in this Congress.

Gibbs made the remarks in an exchange with the Washington Blade, during which he also said that while President Barack Obama supports DOMA repeal, the administration is obligated to defend DOMA against two lawsuits in progress.

“The president believes … that this is a law that should not exist and should be repealed but at the same time we have to represent the viewpoint of the federal government,” he said.

Gibbs said that he was not aware of any plans for President Obama to mention DOMA or marriage equality in the State of the Union address next week.

Read a partial transcript of the exchange with Gibbs here.

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