To amend title 10, United States Code, and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994, to codify and clarify gender neutral standards for members of certain Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
This legislation aims to codify and clarify gender-neutral standards for members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. It explicitly prohibits the exclusion of service members from any occupational specialty, career field, or assignment solely on the basis of gender, ensuring equal opportunity across these branches. The bill amends existing law to require that all occupational performance standards be developed using a scientifically rigorous process , encompassing technical, tactical, cognitive, and physical abilities. It also mandates an annual report from the Secretary of Defense to Congress detailing any changes to occupational standards and providing data on involuntary reclassifications or separations, disaggregated by gender. To enhance congressional oversight, the legislation requires the Secretary of Defense to provide more comprehensive information, including estimated costs and detailed justifications with supporting research, for any proposed changes to occupational standards. It extends the congressional review period for such changes from 60 days to 180 days . Additionally, the bill directs the submission of an unredacted review by the Institute for Defense Analyses on the operational effectiveness of Army and Marine Corps ground combat units, along with a subsequent Comptroller General report reviewing it.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Armed Forces and National Security
To amend title 10, United States Code, and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994, to codify and clarify gender neutral standards for members of certain Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
USA119th CongressHR-8175| House
| Updated: 4/2/2026
This legislation aims to codify and clarify gender-neutral standards for members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. It explicitly prohibits the exclusion of service members from any occupational specialty, career field, or assignment solely on the basis of gender, ensuring equal opportunity across these branches. The bill amends existing law to require that all occupational performance standards be developed using a scientifically rigorous process , encompassing technical, tactical, cognitive, and physical abilities. It also mandates an annual report from the Secretary of Defense to Congress detailing any changes to occupational standards and providing data on involuntary reclassifications or separations, disaggregated by gender. To enhance congressional oversight, the legislation requires the Secretary of Defense to provide more comprehensive information, including estimated costs and detailed justifications with supporting research, for any proposed changes to occupational standards. It extends the congressional review period for such changes from 60 days to 180 days . Additionally, the bill directs the submission of an unredacted review by the Institute for Defense Analyses on the operational effectiveness of Army and Marine Corps ground combat units, along with a subsequent Comptroller General report reviewing it.