S. 5189 · 119th Congress
A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year…
Full title
A bill 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.
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HironoSponsor26 cosponsors · 25 D, 1 I
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Alsobrooks
TB
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Baldwin
CB
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Booker
TD
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Duckworth
JF
D
Fetterman
KG
D
Gillibrand
JH
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Hickenlooper
MK
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Kelly
AK
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Kim
EM
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Markey
PM
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Murray
JR
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Rosen
CS
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Schumer
AS
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Schiff
JS
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Shaheen
ES
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Slotkin
CV
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Van Hollen
RW
D
Wyden
EW
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Warren
AP
D
Padilla
MW
D
Warner
MB
D
Bennet
LB
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Blunt Rochester
RB
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Blumenthal
AK
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King
SW
D
Whitehouse19 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from excluding an individual from military positions or assignments based on gender. It also limits changes to DOD occupational performance standards that address gender neutrality.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Jul 30, 2026
This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from excluding an individual from military positions or assignments based on gender. It also limits changes to DOD occupational performance standards that address gender neutrality.
First, the bill prohibits the exclusion of members of the Armed Forces from an occupational specialty, career field, or assignment on the basis of gender.
Next, it prohibits DOD from changing an occupational performance standard to increase or decrease the number of individuals in a career field on the basis of gender. (Currently, this prohibition only applies to increasing or decreasing the number of women.)
DOD must also apply occupational standards related to technical, tactical, cognitive, or physical abilities on a gender-neutral basis for positions that require such standards and must determine any such standards after a rigorous scientific process.
In situations where DOD establishes or revises a physical requirement for a military position, a member serving satisfactorily in such a position must be provided at least 18 months to meet the new standard.
Finally, DOD must notify Congress of any proposed changes to the gender-neutral occupational standards for a military position that may result in at least a 10% change in the number of members of any gender who are assigned to or enter that position. (Currently, such notice is required only with respect to a change in the number of female members.) DOD must provide the congressional defense committees with a report on the proposed change, estimated costs, and justification for the change.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: A bill 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.
Latest action (Jul 30, 2026): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Jul 30, 2026
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.