The Department of Defense announced today that it will expand the benefits extended to same-sex partners of military personnel.

Unfortunately, DOMA limits the benefits that same-sex couples may receive, military or not, but new benefits that will be extended include joint duty assignment when both partners are in the military and the same-sex partner of a servicemember being given a military identification card.

As recently as Friday night, the government response to inquiries over the past year had been that “the Department of Defense is conducting a deliberative and comprehensive review of the availability of benefits, when legally permissible, to same-sex domestic partners of service members.”

While the Pentagon’s decision was historic, activists weren’t wasting anytime calling for further action.

“Even today, the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act makes inequality for gay and lesbian military families a legal requirement. It’s time to right this wrong. When the Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of DOMA in the coming weeks … [it] should reflect on the sacrifice made by Americans like Staff Sergeant Tracy Johnson, whose wife was killed in action late last year, or the family of Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan, who succumbed to cancer earlier this week,” HRC’s Chad Griffin said.

Huge, huge news. Story developing, check back for details.