Enduring Accountability Act
Allows military officials to consider separating service members who accept presidential pardons or commutations, with board review and congressional reporting.
In the House Armed Services Committee since Sept. 24, 2026, 12 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 24, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Presidential clemency and military discipline can intersect when a service member receives a pardon or commutation. The bill would require a board to review the related conduct and recommend whether the member should be separated. It would also require military officials to notify the Defense Secretary and report the board’s findings and recommendation to Congress.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Allow separation after presidential clemency
If a service member accepts a presidential pardon or commutation, the relevant Secretary could authorize involuntary administrative separation based on a board’s recommendation. For a National Guard member, the Secretary could instead withdraw the member’s federal recognition; the separation characterization would follow the board’s recommendation.
- Require a board to review the conduct
The Secretary would convene a board to review the conduct related to the pardon or commutation under applicable fitness and conduct rules and standard procedures. The board would make factual findings and recommend whether to authorize separation based on that conduct, regardless of the pardon or commutation.
- Notify the Defense Secretary
A military department Secretary would notify the Secretary of Defense when a covered member accepts a pardon or commutation, when the board is convened, and when it makes a recommendation.
- Report board recommendations to Congress
The Secretary of Defense, or the relevant department Secretary for the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, would report the board’s findings and recommendation to the appropriate congressional committees. If the board recommends separation, the report would also say whether it was authorized and explain any decision not to authorize it.
The proposal addresses how military officials would evaluate conduct connected to a presidential pardon or commutation. It would keep a service-related review and possible personnel action available even when the member has received that clemency.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 24, 2026HOUSESEP 24, 2026By Rep. Johnson with 1 original cosponsorReferred to Armed Services
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeeSEP 24, 2026ARMED SERVICES NOWSEP 24, 2026In committee for 12 daysNo hearing yet
- 12 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026REFERREDHOUSEReferred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 12, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Rep. Johnson’s record: sponsored 27 bills this Congress. 0 passed the House; 0 became law.
- Johnny Olszewski, Jr.D-MD-2ORIGINAL
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