In 1994, President Clinton instituted "don't ask, don't tell" (DADT), a policy which barred open homosexuals from military Service but forbade officers to investigate the sexuality of Service members. Thorne's previous assertion became a test of this new policy, and proceedings against him continued. While Thorne's discharge proceedings were under way, he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for "superb leadership, exceptional professionalism and total devotion to duty". In 1994, a Navy board of inquiry recommended that Thorne be honorably discharged, though the discharge was not official until May 6, 1995.