Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee added an amendment to a 2024 defense spending package on Wednesday that mandates the Pentagon use merit-based personnel systems.
Introduced by Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., the amendment requires the Secretary of Defense to issue regulations no later than Sept. 30, 2024, that “any effort to recruit an individual to serve in a covered Armed Force may not take into account the race or gender of such individual.”
The reform further specifies that the Defense Department must use a merit-based system to determine military promotions and assignments, which includes factors such as “qualifications, performance, integrity, fitness, training, and conduct.”
The Banks amendment was one of several considered during a committee markup of the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.
“America’s military became the greatest fighting force in the history of the world by promoting excellence, embracing colorblind principles, and attracting our nation’s best and brightest,” Banks said.
“The Biden DoD’s indefensible race and gender-based treatment of servicemembers is making our military weaker and our nation less safe. Anti-woke legislators should continue to roll back the Biden administration’s radical attempts to deny Americans’ equal protection under the law.” . . . (read more on The Federalist)
AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2670
OFFERED BY MR. BANKS OF INDIANA
At the appropriate place in title V, insert the following new section:
SEC. 5__. MILITARY PERSONNEL: RECRUITING; MERIT-BASED DETERMINATIONS.
(a) RECRUITING.—Not later than September 30, 2024, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations that any effort to recruit an individual to serve in a covered Armed Force may not take into account the race or gender of such individual.
(b) MERIT-BASED DETERMINATIONS.—Not later than September 30, 2024, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations that, with regards to a military accession, assignment, selection, or promotion—
(1) a determination shall be made on the basis of merit in order to advance those individuals who exhibit the talent and abilities necessary to promote the national security of the United States;
(2) a candidate shall be evaluated on the bases of qualifications, performance, integrity, fitness, training, and conduct;
(3) no determination may be based on favoritism or nepotism; and
(4) no quota may be used.
(c) COVERED ARMED FORCE DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘covered Armed Force’’ means the following:
(1) The Army.
(2) The Navy.
(3) The Marine Corps.
(4) The Air Force.
(5) The Space Force.
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