DoD Freezes Gender Changes on Military IDs—Shockeroo!
Published Date: 12/1/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting December 1, 2025, the Department of Defense is stopping retirees, dependents, and contractors from changing their gender marker on military ID cards. This change follows a new executive order focused on restoring biological truth in federal records. If you’re affected, you can still share your thoughts until January 30, 2026, but the new rule takes effect right away with no extra costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
No DEERS sex-code changes for retirees
If you are a retiree, dependent, or contractor employee, you can no longer request a change to your sex code (previously called a "gender marker") in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) starting December 1, 2025. The rule removes the self-attestation procedure for making that change except when correcting an administrative error; you may submit comments on the rule until January 30, 2026.
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