---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 986"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "986"
heading: "Policy regarding identification of gender or personal pronouns in official correspondence"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/986"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 49 — Miscellaneous Prohibitions and Penalties"
---

# §986. Policy regarding identification of gender or personal pronouns in official correspondence


The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may not require or prohibit a member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) or a civilian employee of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense to identify the gender or personal pronouns of such member or employee in any official correspondence of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6).


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title V, § 522(b), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 249.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 986, added Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1071(a)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–275; amended Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title X, § 1048(c)(3), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1226; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title X, § 1062, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2056, prohibited the Department of Defense from granting or renewing security clearances for certain persons, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title X, § 1072(b)(1), (3), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 329, 330, effective Jan. 1, 2008.