# 119-s-5542: Military Officer Promotion Integrity Act of 2026

119-s-5542, Military Officer Promotion Integrity Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT); status introduced (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5542
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5542
- Congress: 119
- Title: Military Officer Promotion Integrity Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-09-24
- Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-16

## Summary

**Restricts and formalizes when the Secretary of Defense can remove officers from promotion recommendations.** The bill would require written, evidence-backed removal determinations, list specific allowable grounds, bar removals for lawful official activity, and create expedited post-removal reviews under 10 U.S.C. § 1552. - Selected officers would receive written notice and access to expedited review procedures, and the Secretary must provide notice within 15 days of a final removal determination. - The Secretary of Defense would be limited to four enumerated grounds for removal: misconduct, newly discovered material adverse information that affects promotion qualifications, loss of statutory qualifications, or national security or military necessity. Removals must identify the ground, set out factual findings and evidence, and be supported by substantial evidence. - Congressional defense committees would receive written notification within 15 days after a final removal decision.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (D-NV), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Protections for officers selected for promotion: benefit, high. If enacted, this bill would limit when the Secretary of Defense could remove an officer who was selected for promotion. Removal would be allowed only for misconduct; newly discovered material adverse information unavailable to the promotion board that materially affects qualifications; loss of stat…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act

## Sources
- [119-s-5542 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5542)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5542 (as of 2026-10-16).