Readiness Over Wokeness Act
Readiness Over Wokeness Act would add a new provision to the U.S. Code that bars individuals with gender dysphoria from serving in the Armed Forces. It covers current diagnoses or histories of gender dysphoria as well as people who have had gender-affirming care (such as hormone therapy or gender-confirming surgeries). For service members who fall under these criteria, the bill requires administrative discharge and provides that, if discharged for this reason and no other basis exists, the member is not required to repay education or other benefits or fulfill any remaining service obligation. The bill also requires the Secretary of Defense to reinvestigate or readjudicate security-clearance eligibility for those who were eligible at separation and to revoke eligibility if they no longer serve in positions requiring access to classified information or decline reinvestigation. The act is named the “Readiness Over Wokeness Act” and would insert a new Sec. 975 into Chapter 49 of Title 10.
Key Points
- 1Prohibition on service: A person may not serve in the Armed Forces if they have a current diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria, exhibit symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria, or have a history of gender-affirming care (e.g., cross-sex hormone therapy or sex reassignment/genital reconstruction) as treatment for gender dysphoria or during a gender transition.
- 2Administrative discharge: The Secretary concerned must administratively discharge service members who are prohibited under subsection (a).
- 3Benefits and service obligations: If a member is separated under this provision and there is no other basis for separation, they are not required to reimburse or repay educational or other benefits or to complete any remaining service obligation.
- 4Security clearances: The Secretary of Defense must reinvestigate and readjudicate the eligibility for access to classified information for those who were separated but were eligible for such access at separation, or revoke eligibility if the person no longer serves in a position requiring classified access or declines the reinvestigation.
- 5Placement and title: The new provision is inserted as Sec. 975 in Chapter 49 of Title 10, following Sec. 974, and is codified as part of the Armed Forces rules governing personnel.