119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 8175
This bill updates military policy to establish gender-neutral standards for Armed Forces members across all service branches. It prohibits the military from excluding service members from job assignments or specialties based on gender and requires occupational standards to be based on actual job performance needs rather than gender, using scientifically rigorous evaluation methods. The bill also increases transparency by requiring the Department of Defense to submit annual reports to Congress detailing any changes to occupational standards, the number of service members reclassified or separated, and reasons for those actions, while extending the review period for proposed changes to occupational standards from 60 to 180 days. The changes take effect September 30, 2026, with the first annual report due the following year. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a previously completed Institute for Defense Analyses review on operational effectiveness of Army and Marine Corps ground combat units to Congress, along with a separate Comptroller General assessment of that review within 180 days.