Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Military Officer Promotion Integrity Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 4 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is cited as the Military Officer Promotion Integrity Act of 2026. It establishes objective standards, procedural protections, and independent review for the Secretary of Defense when removing officers from promotion recommendations. The Secretary may only remove an officer upon a written determination based on specific grounds like misconduct, newly discovered adverse information, lack of statutory qualifications, or national security. The bill requires the Secretary to provide written notice and an opportunity for the officer to respond before making a final determination. It also allows officers to petition a board for correction of military records for an expedited review, which stays the removal.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +7
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill establishes formal notice, an opportunity to respond, and an expedited independent review process via boards for correction of military records for officers facing promotion removal.
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The legislation requires the Secretary of Defense to provide written determinations with specific factual findings and notify congressional defense committees when removing an officer from a promotion list.
- Scored +6
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
By strengthening due process and career protections for military officers, the bill ensures fairer administrative handling for current and former members of the armed forces.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Section 3 establishes that the Secretary of Defense may remove an officer selected for promotion only upon a written determination based on specific grounds such as misconduct, newly discovered adverse information, lack of statutory qualifications, or national security. This protects servicemembers by ensuring objective standards are met rather than arbitrary removals.
-
Section 3 explicitly states that a written determination to remove an officer may not be based upon an officer's participation in, implementation of, or statements made in connection with a lawful Department of Defense policy, directive, program, ceremony, or official activity that was authorized at the time. This protects servicemembers from being penalized for following lawful military policies.
-
Section 5 requires the Secretary of Defense to provide the officer with written notice of the proposed action and the factual basis, give the officer an opportunity to submit written matters for consideration, and consider those matters before issuing a final determination. This gives individuals a fair chance to defend themselves before a final decision is made.
-
Section 5 and Section 6 allow an affected officer to petition a board for correction of military records for an expedited review within 180 days, and mandate that the Secretary of Defense shall stay the removal of the officer until the board completes its review. This gives servicemembers access to an independent review process to challenge unfair decisions.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 3 allows the Secretary of Defense to remove an officer from a promotion recommendation for reasons of national security or military necessity, or based on newly discovered, material adverse information. This could create uncertainty for individuals facing promotion if broad national security or military necessity justifications are applied to their records.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill establishes formal notice, an opportunity to respond, and an expedited independent review process via boards for correction of military records for officers facing promotion removal. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation requires the Secretary of Defense to provide written determinations with specific factual findings and notify congressional defense committees when removing an officer from a promotion list.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — By strengthening due process and career protections for military officers, the bill ensures fairer administrative handling for current and former members of the armed forces.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill provides procedural protections, objective standards, and independent review for military officers facing promotion removal, enhancing overall career support and fairness for servicemembers.
- 9/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire