(Press Release) Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) introduced the Restoring Merit in the Military Act, legislation to ensure all military personnel decisions are based solely on merit, fitness, capability, and performance, not race, ethnicity, or national origin.
The bill backs President Donald Trump by aligning with his executive order on Restoring Merit and Lethality to America’s Armed Forces, doubling down on his push to end woke DEI policies and restore strength, merit, and fairness to the military.
It also builds on one of Rep. Mace’s amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and makes clear America’s military must remain the world’s strongest fighting force by upholding equal opportunity and racial neutrality in all Department of Defense personnel actions. These actions include accessions, promotions, assignments, command selection, and schooling or training opportunities.
“America’s military is the strongest fighting force the world has ever known, and we refuse to let woke politics chip away at its strength,” said Congresswoman Mace.
“President Trump has drawn a bold line in the sand, and our legislation stands with him. We will restore merit, discipline, and fairness to our ranks so those who wear the uniform rise because of their skill and leadership, not because of the Left’s political agenda.”
The legislation prohibits the use of race, ethnicity, or national origin in any Department of Defense personnel action, with only a narrow exception for certain foreign missions where demographics may be critical to success. Any exception requires approval from the Combatant Commander and must be reported to Congress.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5025/text
H. R. 5025
To ensure equal opportunity, racial neutrality, and the exclusive use of merit in military personnel decisions, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 22, 2025
Ms. Mace (for herself and Mr. Carter of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To ensure equal opportunity, racial neutrality, and the exclusive use of merit in military personnel decisions, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. Short title.
This Act may be cited as the “Restoring Merit in the Military Act”.
SEC. 2. Requirement of equal opportunity, racial neutrality, and exclusive use of merit in military personnel actions.
(a) Merit requirement.—All Department of Defense military personnel actions, including accessions, promotions, assignments, command selection, and military and civil schooling selection and training, shall be based exclusively on individual merit, fitness, capability, and performance.
(b) Consideration of race prohibited.—Consideration of an individual’s race, ethnicity, or national origin in any military personnel action is prohibited throughout the Department of Defense.
(c) Limited exception for tasking of specific missions.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—This section shall not be construed to prohibit tasking for specific, unconventional missions in foreign countries, where the anticipated ground operating environment of indigenous populations may justify consideration of race, ethnicity, or national origin when tasking for the mission to optimize mission success.
(2) COMBATANT COMMANDER APPROVAL REQUIRED.—Any tasking pursuant to the exception described in paragraph (1) shall require the approval of the combatant commander concerned.
(3) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 60 days after a tasking pursuant to the exception described in paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall report the tasking to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The report shall describe—
(A) the mission, including location and duration;
(B) the staffing of the mission;
(C) the demographic factors warranting the tasking;
(D) the number of personnel involved, including their rank, position, and race, ethnicity, and national origin; and
(E) the rationale for the tasking.
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