ACLU Questions Pentagon Move of Women Combat Study to Johns Hopkins APL

The U.S. Department of Defense moved a yearslong study on women in combat roles to the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The shift drew immediate scrutiny from civil rights advocates who say the change appears designed to influence the findings.

A Defense Department spokesperson confirmed that the Applied Physics Laboratory is now conducting the study. The agency declined to explain why it took the project away from the Institute for Defense Analyses, a nonprofit based in Alexandria, Virginia.

Critics point to the laboratory’s connection to Yevgeniya Pinelis, a researcher at the Applied Physics Laboratory. Pinelis published a 2015 study on the integration of women into Marine Corps combat units. That research has been cited by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has voiced opposition to women in such roles and implemented strict sex-neutral fitness standards.

Gillian Thomas, senior counsel of the ACLU Women’s Rights Project, said the lack of clarity is troubling. "Since it’s come to light, we’ve gotten no transparency about why the study is being undertaken," Thomas said.

Thomas filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of the ACLU, the Service Women’s Action Network, and other groups. The lawsuit seeks public records related to the study. The groups had submitted a Freedom of Information Act request in August. Federal law requires the department to respond within 20 business days to state whether it will grant, partially grant, or deny the request.

The new review was first announced in a December 2025 memo by Anthony Tata, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. Tata stated the initiative aims to evaluate the operational effectiveness of mixed-gender units. The military began lifting restrictions on women in combat positions in 2013, with a deadline for implementation set for the start of 2016.

The lawsuit argues that the Applied Physics Laboratory lacks specific expertise in studying occupation-specific performance. It also notes that Pinelis’ 2015 work has faced criticism for a small participant pool and inequitable experience levels between male and female Marines.

The Applied Physics Laboratory is the largest recipient of defense contracts among 15 research centers funded by the Pentagon. Located off Route 29 in Laurel, the laboratory generates roughly 70% of its revenue from the Department of War, according to a June financial report from Johns Hopkins University.

In the fiscal year ending in June 2025, the laboratory reported revenue of about 2.8 billion dollars. That amount represented approximately one-third of the university’s total revenue. Audited financial statements show the Department of Defense awarded the laboratory about 12 billion dollars in contracts over the last decade.

Hegseth has led the department since President Donald Trump appointed him in January 2025. Over the past year, the department has promoted fewer women and minorities to senior positions, ended identity-related events, and eliminated women-centered programs. Hegseth cited Pinelis’ 2015 study in his book "The War on Warriors."

Representatives for the Applied Physics Laboratory and Pinelis did not respond to requests for comment. Thomas said the timing and the choice of researcher warrant an explanation. "To midstream be yanking it away and giving it to someone with this public track record is concerning to say the least and we think an explanation is owed," Thomas said.