The Readiness Over Wokeness Act: A Bill to Prohibit Individuals with Gender Dysphoria from Serving in the Armed Forces

On May 14, 2025, a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives that would prohibit individuals with gender dysphoria from serving as members of the Armed Forces. The bill, known as H.R. 3406, aims to restrict access to the military based on an individual’s gender identity.

Section 1: Short Title

This Act may be cited as the “Readiness Over Wokeness Act”.

Section 2: Prohibition on Service in the Armed Forces by Individuals with Gender Dysphoria

Chapter 49 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 974 the following new section:

§ 975. Prohibition on service in the Armed Forces by individuals with gender dysphoria

‘(a) Prohibition.—A person may not serve as a member of the Armed Forces if the person—

(1) has a current diagnosis or history of, or exhibits symptoms consistent with, gender dysphoria;

(2) has a history of gender affirming care, including cross-sex hormone therapy or sex reassignment or genital reconstruction surgery as treatment for gender dysphoria or in pursuit of a sex transition.

‘(b) Administrative separation.—(1) The Secretary concerned shall administratively discharge any member of the Armed Forces prohibited from serving as a member under subsection (a).

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a member of the Armed Forces who is separated pursuant to paragraph (1) and for whom no other basis exists for separation is not required to—

(A) provide reimbursement for any educational or other benefit for which reimbursement would otherwise be required due to the termination of service as a member of the Armed Forces;

(B) complete any obligation of service as a member of the Armed Forces.

‘(c) Security clearance reinvestigation.—The Secretary of Defense shall—

(1) conduct a reinvestigation and readjudication of the eligibility for access to classified information of any person administratively discharged under subsection (b) who was eligible to access classified information at the time of separation from the Armed Forces;

(2) with respect to any such person who, after separation from the Armed Forces, does not serve in a position requiring eligibility to access classified information or who declines to participate in a reinvestigation or readjudication of the eligibility of such person for access to classified information, revoke the eligibility of such person for access to classified information.’