PRESIDENT DIRECTS PENTAGON TOREINSTATE TRANSGENDER BAN
Order temporarily protects those now in uniform, stops some transition payments
President Trump late Friday ordered the Pentagon to reverse the Obama administration policy on transgender troops, reverting to the ban on transgender service members that was in place prior to 2016.
Trump also halted spending on medical treatment for troops transitioning to the other sex unless such amove would endanger the service member’s health. The order also affects the Department of Homeland Security, which contains the Coast Guard.
Trump, in the order, said the Obama administration “failed to identify a sufficient basis to conclude that terminating the Departments’ longstanding policy and practice would not hinder military effectiveness and lethality, disrupt unit cohesion, or tax military resources.” Further study is needed to ensure the policy would not have those effects, he wrote.
The guidance to the Pentagon came in the form of a presidential memorandum, a form of directive that carries equal weight as an executive order. It was addressed to the secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security, making clear that the policy applies to the Coast Guard as well.
Advocates for transgender troops expressed outrage Friday.
“A billion- dollar witch hunt targeting thousands of current service members will not save the taxpayers money or strengthen the military but will cause disruptions and undermine military readiness, just as the failed ‘ don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy did,” said Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was the military’s policy that had prohibited gay and lesbian troops from serving.
Trump surprised the Pentagon on July 26 when he announced in three tweets that he intended to overturn the Obamaera policy that allowed transgender troops to serve openly and receive treatment. Obama had called for the Pentagon to begin accepting new transgender troops this year.
The order temporarily protects transgender people already serving in the military, directing that “no action may be taken against such individuals” until the secretary of Defense comes up with an implementation plan.