H.R. 10710: Military Officer Promotion Integrity Act of 2026

This bill would change the rules for when the Secretary of Defense can remove an officer from a promotion list after a promotion board has already selected that officer.

What would change

• The Secretary of Defense could remove a selected officer only for specific reasons, and would have to put that decision in writing.
• The allowed reasons would be:
  • misconduct,
  • newly discovered, important negative information that was not available to the promotion board,
  • the officer no longer meets the legal requirements for promotion, or
  • national security or military necessity.
• The written decision would have to identify the exact reason, explain the facts and evidence, and be supported by substantial evidence.
• The Secretary could not base a removal solely on an officer’s participation in, implementation of, or statements about a lawful Defense Department policy, directive, program, ceremony, or official activity that was authorized when it occurred.

Notice and response rights

• Before a final removal decision, the officer would have to receive written notice of the proposed action and the facts behind it.
• The officer would get a chance to submit a written response.
• The Secretary would have to consider that response before making the final decision.

Congressional and officer notification

• Within 15 days after a final decision, the Secretary would have to notify both the affected officer and the congressional defense committees in writing.

Review by correction boards

• If the officer asks for review by a Board for Correction of Military Records within 15 days of being notified, the removal would be put on hold until the board finishes its review.
• The board would have to complete its review within 180 days.
• If the board removes the adverse information from the officer’s record or finds the removal violated the law or regulations, the Secretary would have to cancel the earlier decision, reconsider the promotion recommendation, and issue a new written decision.

Definition of misconduct

• The bill defines “misconduct” to include:
  • violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice,
  • substantiated adverse findings by an Inspector General, board of inquiry, or other competent authority,
  • conduct leading to removal from command or administrative separation proceedings, or
  • conduct showing the officer cannot perform the duties of the rank for which they were selected.

Implementation

• The Secretary of Defense would have to issue procedures to carry out these changes within 180 days of enactment.

Relevant Companies

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