Congresswoman Julie Johnson Announces Military Pardon Reform Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30th, 2026
Contact: Chelsea Roe, Communications Director
Chelsea.Roe@mail.house.gov | (469) 323-4184
Congresswoman Julie Johnson Announces Military Pardon Reform Bill
Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, along with Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), introduced the Enduring Accountability Act. The legislation would require service branch secretaries to establish conduct review boards for personnel who have received pardons by the President of the United States. Once under consideration, the review boards will recommend to the Service Secretary whether to retain the pardoned service member in the United States Armed Forces.
“Our armed forces have faced constant intimidation from President Trump and his allies to abandon the Constitution and comply with his shortsighted political ambitions,” said Congresswoman Johnson. "The Enduring Accountability Act gives our armed services an important tool for removing those who violate their oaths of service, regardless of political theater."
"A pardon shouldn't end all accountability," said Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02). "When a service member is granted a pardon, they should still answer to the same standards as everyone else in uniform. That's how we keep trust and discipline in our military."
Immediately after the President grants a federal pardon, the conduct review board will initiate proceedings. The boards will review the pardoned actions, determine whether they violate military standards, and recommend to the Service Secretary whether to retain or discharge the service member. The legislation further directs the Secretary of Defense to provide Congress with the review board’s accepted recommendation, or a justification for rejecting it, within 30 days.
To read the full text of the legislation, click here.
Congresswoman Julie Johnson represents Texas’s 32nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and serves on the Homeland Security Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Administration Committee. Her district includes parts of Collin, Dallas, and Denton Counties.
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