Trump issues ban on transgender people serving in military
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump abruptly declared a ban Wednesday on transgender troops serving anywhere in the U.S. military, catching the Pentagon flat-footed and unable to explain what it called Mr. Trump’s “guidance.” His proclamation, on Twitter rather than any formal announcement, drew bipartisan denunciations and threw currently serving transgender soldiers into limbo.
“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,” the commander in chief tweeted. “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.”
The Pentagon reportedly was caught off guard by Mr. Trump’s tweet, as were senior lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Mr. Trump — who occasionally has presented himself as a potential ally of gays and lesbians — wrote that he had consulted with “my generals and military experts,” but he did not mention Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, the retired Marine general who less than one month ago told the military service chiefs to spend another six months weighing the costs and benefits of allowing transgender individuals to enlist. At the time, Mr. Mattis said this “does not presuppose the outcome of the review,” but Mr. Trump’s tweets appeared to have done just that.
The Pentagon has refused to release any data on the number of transgender people currently serving. A Rand Corp. study has estimated the number at between 1,320 and 6,630 out of 1.3 million active-duty troops.
Criticism for Mr. Trump’s action was immediate and strong from both political parties.
His action is “harmful, misguided and weakens, not strengthens our military,” said Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrandof New York.
John McCain, the Arizona Republican and Vietnam War hero, said Mr. Trump was simply wrong.
“Any American who meets current medical and readiness standards should be allowed to continue serving,” he said. “There is no reason to force service members who are able to fight, train and deploy to leave the military -- regardless of their gender identity.”
Not everyone at the Capitol agreed.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said, “The president’s decision was the absolute right decision. ... It’s about time that a decision is made to restore the warrior culture and allow the U.S. military to get back to business.”
Transgender people already in uniform were concerned about what comes next.
“Everybody is hurt, everybodyis scared,” said Rudy Akbarian, 26, who is in the military but did not want to identify his branch even though his chain of command was supportive as he transitionedfrom female to male.
Shane Ortega, a 30-yearold retired staff sergeant in Los Angeles, said he’s concerned more for civilians than transgender troops.
Mr. Ortega, who transitioned to male while serving in the Army and served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, said, “When Donald Trump attacks what America calls its heroes or its warrior class, it means it’s only a matter of time before he starts attacking and disassembling the American public, and that’s what I have the most fear of.”
Hours after Mr. Trump’s tweets, Mr. Mattis, who has been on vacation this week, was publicly silent and the Pentagon referred all questionsto the White House.
Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said the Pentagon was working with the White House to “address the new guidance” from Mr. Trump. That suggested there is not yet any new written policy or executive order.
Mr.Trump’s sudden declaration appears to halt a decadeslong trend toward more inclusive policies on military service, including the repeal in 2010 of a ban on gays servingopenly.
Transgender service members have been able to serve openly since 2016, when former President Barack Obama’s Pentagon chief, Ash Carter, ended the ban. Since Oct. 1, transgender troops could receive medical care and start changing their gender identifications in the Pentagon’s personnel system.
Mr. Carter also gave the servicesuntil July 1 to develop policies to allow people already identifying as transgender to join the military if they normal standards and have been stable in their identified gendersfor 18 months.
On June 30, Mr. Mattis extended the July 1 deadline to next Jan. 1, saying the services should study the impact on the “readiness and lethality of our forces.”