Military DEI Repeal Act of 2026
- Sponsor
- Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]
- Committees
- Armed Services Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Sep 29, 2026
Bottom line
The bill repeals several specific Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies and training requirements within the U.S. military, aiming to refocus on traditional military values.
What it actually does
This bill seeks to eliminate specific diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements within the United States military. It removes mandates for diversity in military selection boards, repeals a pronoun policy, and modifies human relations training to focus on traditional military values instead of DEI-related topics. The legislation aims to streamline military operations by removing policies that proponents argue are extraneous to core mission readiness.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that the bill is necessary to refocus the military on merit, readiness, and traditional warfighting values, asserting that current DEI initiatives are divisive, detract from the core mission, and are a waste of resources. They contend that these policies introduce unnecessary social engineering into military culture, potentially undermining unit cohesion and effectiveness.
Opponents contend
Opponents contend that repealing these DEI provisions would harm military readiness, recruitment, and retention by alienating diverse service members and potential recruits. They argue that diversity and inclusion are critical for a modern fighting force, fostering a more representative and effective military that can draw on a wider range of talent and perspectives, and that such policies ensure fair treatment and equal opportunity.
The bill is exceptionally short and clear, allowing for a quick and comprehensive understanding of its provisions by any informed reader.
Section 2(a)
Repeal of Diversity Requirements for Selection Boards
This provision amends three sections of Title 10 of the U.S. Code (sections 573(b), 612(a)(1), and 14102(b)) by striking the last sentence in each. These sentences are understood to mandate or encourage the consideration of diversity in the composition of military selection boards responsible for promotions and other personnel decisions. By removing these sentences, the bill eliminates explicit requirements for diversity on these boards.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that removing diversity requirements for selection boards ensures that promotions and assignments are based solely on merit, experience, and performance, without external considerations. They believe this fosters a more objective and fair evaluation process, ultimately strengthening military effectiveness.
Critics contend
Critics argue that removing diversity requirements could lead to less diverse selection boards, potentially perpetuating existing biases and hindering the advancement of underrepresented groups. They contend that diverse boards bring a wider range of perspectives, leading to more equitable and effective personnel decisions that reflect the diversity of the force.
Tradeoffs
This provision balances the desire for merit-based selection against the goal of ensuring diverse representation and equitable opportunity within military leadership. It raises questions about whether explicit diversity mandates are necessary to achieve a fair and representative force.
Section 2(b)
Repeal of Pronoun Policy
This section repeals Section 986 of Title 10, United States Code. While the specific text of Section 986 is not provided, the context of the bill suggests this section established or mandated a policy regarding the use of personal pronouns within the military. Its repeal would eliminate any such federal mandate, leaving pronoun policies to potentially be determined at lower levels or eliminated entirely.
Section 2(c)
Modification of Human Relations Training
This provision amends Section 2001(a)(1)(B) of Title 10, United States Code. It strikes the existing language regarding the content of human relations training and replaces it with a mandate to "include honor, excellence, courage, and commitment." This change removes any previous requirements for human relations training to cover DEI-related topics, instead directing it to focus on traditional military values.