Bill · H.R. 5046· House(119-HR-5046)
Restoring Merit in the Military Service Academies Act
- Introduced
- 8/26/2025
- Last activity
- 8/26/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Sponsored by
- Nancy Mace
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is titled the Restoring Merit in the Military Service Academies Act. It requires that appointments and selections to the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy be made solely based on merit using a standardized candidate composite score. The legislation prohibits the consideration of race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or religion in service academy admissions. It establishes specific weighting rules for academic and standardized test components in the composite score while limiting subjective components. Additionally, the bill requires annual reports from the respective military secretaries regarding admissions cycles, minimum scores, and waivers.
Yes· 3 of 5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+6
The legislation requires comprehensive annual reporting regarding admissions scores, waivers, and cadet academic statuses.
Would students be better off under this?+5
Establishes a predictable, standardized composite scoring standard prioritizing academic components and test scores for student applicants.
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+4
Establishes a transparent, standardized merit-based composite score system for young adults applying to military academies.
The opposite· 3 of 6
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?-5
The bill explicitly prohibits the consideration of race and ethnicity in military service academy admissions.
Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated?-5
The bill explicitly prohibits the consideration of sex in military service academy admissions.
Would Black Americans be better off under this?-4
Eliminating race and ethnicity considerations in academy admissions removes targeted diversity recruitment mechanisms.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Clear Merit-Based Standards: Under Section 2 (amending sections 7442, 8454, and 9442 of title 10, United States Code), candidate qualifications for admission must be determined using a uniformly calculated candidate composite score where the academic component is weighted at not less than 60 percent and standardized test scores are weighted at not less than 45 percent. This ensures a transparent, objective standard for applicants.
-
Accountability Through Reporting: Section 2 requires the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of the Air Force to submit an annual report by October 1 to congressional committees detailing minimum scores used, the total number of waivers granted with explanations, and the academic and military status of cadets or midshipmen who received waivers. This holds officials accountable for admissions decisions.
-
Prohibition of Discriminatory Factors: Section 2 explicitly adds provisions stating that the race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or religion of an applicant may not be considered when deciding whether to admit an applicant to the academies.
-
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Strict Limits on Subjective Evaluations: Section 2 mandates that the total of all subjective components in the composite score cannot be weighted at more than 10 percent, and any subjectively based adjustment is limited to not more than 10 percent of the score. This could negatively affect applicants who excel in non-academic leadership qualities that rely on subjective assessments.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Gender Equality-5Improves Racial Equity-5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+6Increases Federal Power+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Students+5Good For Asian Americans+4Good For Young Adults+4Good For African Americans-4Good For Hispanic Americans-4Good For Native Americans-4Good For Women-4
- 8/26/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Introduced in House