Annual report on findings of the Department-wide review of the military legal system

(a) Report (1) In general Not later than December 1, 2027, and annually thereafter by December 1 through 2031, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the General Counsel of the Department of Defense, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a comprehensive report on the findings, recommendations, and implementation status of the Department-wide review of the military legal system initiated pursuant to the Secretary of Defense memorandum dated May 8, 2026. (2) Elements The report required under paragraph (1) shall include the following elements: (A) A detailed summary of the reviews conducted by the special review panel established by the General Counsel, including a list of all final recommendations submitted to the Secretary during the preceding fiscal year. (B) Details on the specific timeline, implementation status, and systemic changes executed or planned by the Department based on the panel’s recommendations. (C) An assessment of how any administrative, structural, or policy changes resulting from the review impact the statutory independence and authorities of the special trial counsel established under part I of subtitle D of title V of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 135 Stat. 1692). (D) The specific metrics, criteria, and legal justifications used to differentiate operational military legal workloads from civilian workloads, alongside a quantification of any legal personnel or billets shifted from military to civilian oversight. (E) A summary of the comparative data and criteria used by the Department to benchmark the military legal system against the Department of Justice and State criminal justice systems, including any findings on system efficiencies or deficiencies. (F) An evaluation of how proposed changes affect the professional responsibility, rating chains, and statutory duty of the Judge Advocates General of the Armed Forces to provide independent legal advice. (3) Form The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex if necessary. (b) Briefing requirement The Secretary of Defense shall brief the congressional defense committees not later than 30 days after implementing any changes based on the recommendations of the panel and review described in subsection (a)(1).