How Obama changed transgender military policy
President Donald Trump’s announcement on Twitter on Wednesday morning that transgender people would be barred from the U.S. military “in any capacity” marked a sudden reversal of a policy that had evolved rapidly under the Obama White House.
Here is a look at events leading to the lifting of the transgender ban in June 2016, and what has happened since. who were already serving in the military.
“We have transgender soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines — real, patriotic Americans — who I know are being hurt by an outdated, confusing, inconsistent approach that’s contrary to our value of service and individual merit,” he said.
In previous months, lawmakers had begun to openly champion the cause of transgender service members. because “they’re already in the military.”
A year after Carter lifted the Pentagon’s ban, Trump’s defense secretary, Jim Mattis, delayed a plan to allow transgender recruits to join the military.
According to a Pentagon spokeswoman, the delay would allow service leaders to “review their accession plans and provide input” as they consider the impact of transgender recruits on “the readiness and lethality of our forces.”
Congressional Republicans were also attempting to roll back the Obama policy. In early July, the House narrowly rejected a bill that would have stopped the Pentagon from paying for gender transition and hormone therapy.
On Wednesday, Trump reversed what had been ushered in by the Obama administration, saying on Twitter he made the decision based on advice from generals and military experts. He did not specify whom he had consulted.