H.R. 5025: Restoring Merit in the Military Act

This bill, titled the Restoring Merit in the Military Act, aims to ensure that all personnel decisions within the Department of Defense (DoD) are made based solely on individual merit, fitness, capability, and performance. The key points of the bill include:

Merit Requirement

All military personnel actions such as:

• Accessions (hiring of new personnel)
• Promotions
• Assignments
• Selection for command positions
• Selection for military and civil schooling and training

must be based exclusively on merit and performance, without regard to any other factors.

Prohibition of Race Consideration

The bill prohibits the consideration of an individual’s race, ethnicity, or national origin in any military personnel actions across the DoD. This means that decisions regarding hiring, promotions, or other personnel actions should not factor in these characteristics.

Exceptions for Specific Missions

There is a limited exception in circumstances where specific missions may require consideration of race or ethnicity. Details regarding this exception include:

• It applies specifically to unconventional missions in foreign countries where the local environment may justify such considerations to better accomplish the mission.
• Approval from a combatant commander is necessary for any such tasking.
• The Secretary of Defense must report to the Armed Services Committees of both the Senate and House within 60 days of such a tasking. This report should include:
• The mission details, including location and duration.
• The staffing composition of the mission.
• The demographic factors that warranted the use of race or ethnicity in the tasking.
• The number of personnel involved, along with their ranks and demographic information.
• The rationale behind the tasking decision.

Overall Aim of the Bill

The overall intent of this legislation is to establish a military environment where personnel decisions are strictly merit-based, promoting equal opportunity and racial neutrality throughout the armed forces.

Relevant Companies

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