Trump to ban transgender people from all military service
Wed. July 26, 2017 8:18 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
In a series of tweets, President Trump said no transgender individuals will be allowed to serve "in any capacity" in the U.S. military.
In tweets Wednesday morning the president wrote: "After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you."
Trump's announcement represents a major shift in military policy.
President Obama's final defense secretary, Ash Carter, issued a directive last year that permitted transgender troops to serve in the military, and to undergo reassignment surgery.
That step left a decision for Trump Secretary of Defense James Mattis to make a decision on whether to allow new transgender troops to enter the military.
During the 2016 campaign, Trump called himself a "real friend" of the LGBT community.
"Thank you to the LGBT community! I will fight for you while Hillary brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs," he tweeted in June.
This story is still developing.
In tweets Wednesday morning the president wrote: "After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you."
Trump's announcement represents a major shift in military policy.
President Obama's final defense secretary, Ash Carter, issued a directive last year that permitted transgender troops to serve in the military, and to undergo reassignment surgery.
That step left a decision for Trump Secretary of Defense James Mattis to make a decision on whether to allow new transgender troops to enter the military.
During the 2016 campaign, Trump called himself a "real friend" of the LGBT community.
"Thank you to the LGBT community! I will fight for you while Hillary brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs," he tweeted in June.
This story is still developing.