April 2, 2026
Ms. Houlahan (for herself, Ms. Goodlander, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Tran, Mr. Crow, Mr. Ryan, Mr. Cisneros, Mr. Courtney, Ms. Elfreth, Ms. Norton, Ms. Jacobs, Ms. Pelosi, Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida, Mr. Latimer, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Bell, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Deluzio, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Goldman of New York, Mr. Keating, Mr. Sorensen, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Mr. Vasquez, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Whitesides, Ms. Escobar, Mr. Quigley, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Kennedy of New York, Mr. Menefee, and Mr. Khanna) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
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.
Section 1. Gender neutral standards in certain Armed Forces
(a) Prohibition on exclusion of a member of certain Armed Forces from an assignment on the basis of gender
(1) In general
Section 652 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
652. Prohibition of exclusion from assignments on the basis of gender
(a) Prohibition
A member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force may not be excluded from an occupational specialty, career field, or assignment on the basis of gender.
(b) Annual report
The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives an annual report that includes, with respect to the year preceding the date of the report, the following:
(1)
Any change to an occupational standard, including a description of how such change predicts performance of actual, regular, and recurring duties of a military occupational specialty.
(2)
The number of members, disaggregated by military occupational specialty and gender, who were involuntarily reclassified or separated for a reason other than discipline or pursuant to a sentence of a court-martial.
(3)
The reasons for reclassifications or separations described in paragraph (2).
(2) Conforming amendment
Section 8225 of title 10, United States Code, is repealed.
(3) Effective date
The amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on September 30, 2026. The first report under subsection (b) of section 652 of such title, as amended by this section, shall be due on September 30, 2027.
(b) Gender-Neutral occupational standard for a military career designator: modernization; additional information to Congress To review a proposed change
(1) Modernization
Section 543 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (Public Law 103–160; 10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended—
(A)
in subsection (a)—
(i)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking that is open to both male and female members of the Armed Forces
; and
(ii)
in paragraph (3), by striking women in that occupational career field
and inserting individuals in such occupational career field on the basis of gender
;
(B)
in subsection (b)—
(i)
in the heading, by striking Specific Physical Requirements
and inserting Occupational Performance Standards
;
(ii)
in paragraph (1)—
(I)
by striking physical
both places it appears;
(II)
by inserting , based on a scientifically rigorous process,
after determines
;
(III)
by inserting technical, tactical, cognitive, or physical abilities, including
before muscular strength
; and
(IV)
by striking (in the case of a career designator that is open to both male and female members of the Armed Forces)
; and
(iii)
in paragraph (2)—
(I)
by inserting not shorter than 18 months
after a reasonable period
; and
(II)
by inserting that are based on input from health care providers and researchers of the Department of Defense
after prescribed by the Secretary
; and
(C)
in subsection (c), by striking female members of the Armed Forces
and inserting members of the Armed Forces, of any gender,
.
(2) Information to Congress
Such section is further amended, in subsection (c)—
(A)
by striking are expected to
and inserting may
;
(B)
by striking Congress
and inserting the congressional defense committees
;
(C)
by striking change and the justification and rationale
and inserting proposed change, the estimated costs, the justification (including the relevant research and data that the Secretary reviewed and relied upon before making such proposal), and rationale
; and
(D)
by striking 60-day period
and inserting 180-day period
.
(c) Institute for Defense Analyses review of operational effectiveness of Army and Marine Corps ground combat units
(1) Submission to Congress
Not later than seven days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress the full, unredacted review of operational effectiveness of Army and Marine Corps ground combat units prepared by the Institute for Defense Analyses.
(2) Comptroller General review
Not later than 180 days after the date of the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report reviewing—
(A)
the review submitted to Congress under paragraph (1); and
(B)
any actions taken by the Secretary of Defense in response to the review.