Army Secretary John McHugh said yesterday the military is considering a system for soldiers to anonymously express their opinions about its “;don't ask, don't tell”; policy on gay troops.

The Pentagon will make a recommendation on changing the policy by the end of the year, McHugh said. Soldiers would make their comments ahead of that recommendation, he said.

“;We're trying to do this in the quietest way possible, and by that I simply mean not to sensationalize it, to try to really assess the soldiers' opinions,”; McHugh said at Schofield Barracks. “;Anonymity, of course, is an important aspect.”;

Any policy change would have to come from Congress. Until then, federal law prohibits service members from discussing their sexual orientation. President Barack Obama supports lifting the ban.

McHugh spoke to reporters alongside Lt. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, who recently urged troops to lobby to keep the ban on openly gay military service. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey told Mixon in March that his actions were inappropriate.

Mixon did not discuss the issue yesterday.

McHugh stopped in Hawaii at the end of a seven-day tour through Alaska, South Korea and Japan—his first trip to the Asia-Pacific theater since he was confirmed by the Senate in September.