S. 5189 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jul 30, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySets gender-neutral standards for military positions
This bill requires the Department of Defense to treat all service members equally when assigning them to military jobs and roles. It says occupational standards—like physical fitness requirements—must be applied the same way to everyone, regardless of gender, and these standards must be based on rigorous scientific research. When DOD creates or changes physical requirements for a position, people already doing that job well get at least 18 months to meet any new standard.
How it affects you
Active duty service members, National Guard members, and military recruits would see consistent application of job requirements across all genders. If you're in the military or thinking about joining, it means decisions about what positions you can hold or enter won't be based on gender—only on whether you meet the actual performance standards for that role.
Read the official 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 AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionS. 5189
A BILL
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.
Sponsor: Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) · Introduced Jul 30, 2026 · Armed Forces and National Security · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jul 30, 2026: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.”